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22-Neuron v0.4 Test

A project log for NeuroBytes

Build your own nervous system!

zakqwyzakqwy 12/26/2014 at 03:290 Comments

I have a bunch more Neurons, but I unexpectedly ran out of Axons; I crimped up a few more and remembered how long they take to manufacture, so I got lazy and stopped at 22 elements for this test.

This video is pretty straightforward (and quite short!); I arranged 22 Neurons into a loop, making a few modifications as I went:

  1. All Neurons are equipped with Exciters; as such, they are deep yellow (indicating the current membrane potential level of 70%).
  2. I numbered the Neurons counter-clockwise starting with the first one to pulse (triggered by the snap action switch). Neuron #5 is split using an Axon Terminal; part of its output recycles to an excitatory dendrite of Neuron #1. This makes the loop self-sustaining, sending periodic pulses down the chain to Neurons #6 through #22.
  3. Neuron #22 sends its pulses to the inhibitory dendrite of Neuron #3; this is timed such that the pulse arrives right before Neuron #2's excitatory pulse, effectively 'quenching' the loop.
  4. I hooked my ammeter up to the power cord's current measurement loop; you can see the current spikes caused by each excitation, since the LED brightness goes from 12.5% to 100%. Resting current draw is ~6.5 mA per Neuron--not bad!

And so: click the switch, get four pulses! Well, five pulses. Pulse #5 gets shot down by pulse #1.

Blinky.

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