Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing our societies. AI is applied in many fields: science, medicine, well-being, security, and economy. There are two strategies to develop AI. One is by writing human-like intelligent programs running in computers or special-purpose hardware. The other is through neuromorphic engineering. In neuromorphic engineering, surrogates of neurons are implemented through non-biological systems for neuro-prosthesis or brain-like computing machines. Surrogates of neurons can be implemented in hardware, i.e., in the solid phase, either rigid or flexible, depending on the materials used. Alternatively, surrogates of neurons can be devised in wetware, i.e., in the liquid phase or even non-ideal medium, using specific solutions of non-linear chemical systems. Finally, there is the possibility of using hybrid electrochemical systems. In our group, we are mainly pursuing a wetware approach. We propose the use of peculiar chemical systems that can mimic the dynamics of real neurons in the liquid phase and out-of-equilibrium conditions. We usually exploit UV-visible radiation as signals. We study their optical communication, giving rise to feedback actions and emergent temporal synchronization phenomena, analogous to those shown by real neural networks. In this contribution, we show how photochromic compounds are valuable in developing neuromorphic engineering. We demonstrate that single photochromic compounds are reasonable models of phasic excitable neurons. Their wavelength-dependent photochemistry allows the implementation of neuromodulation. Furthermore, photochromic systems can be models of pacemaker neurons and extend human color vision to the UV.

Photochromism in neuromorphic engineering

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.