Here we describe a multi-compartment neuron circuit based on the Adaptive-Exponential I&F (AdEx) model, developed for the second-generation BrainScaleS hardware. Based on an existing modular Leaky Integrate-and-Fire (LIF) architecture designed in 65 nm CMOS, the circuit features exponential spike generation, neuronal adaptation, inter-compartmental connections as well as a conductance-based reset. The design reproduces a diverse set of firing patterns observed in cortical pyramidal neurons. Further, it enables the emulation of sodium and calcium spikes, as well as N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) plateau potentials known from apical and thin dendrites. We characterize the AdEx circuit extensions and exemplify how the interplay between passive and non-linear active signal processing enhances the computational capabilities of single (but structured) on-chip neurons.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1804.01840,
title = {A Mixed-Signal Structured AdEx Neuron for Accelerated Neuromorphic Cores},
author = {Syed Ahmed Aamir and Paul Müller and Gerd Kiene and Laura Kriener and Yannik Stradmann and Andreas Grübl and Johannes Schemmel and Karlheinz Meier},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1804.01840},
year = {2019}
}