Artificial neurons successfully communicate with living brain cells

2026-04-18 · Source: Artificial Intelligence News -- ScienceDaily · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Expert, medium

Summary

Engineers at Northwestern University have developed and printed artificial neurons capable of communicating directly with living brain cells, a significant advancement in neurotechnology and energy-efficient AI. These flexible, low-cost devices generate complex electrical signals that mimic biological neurons, successfully activating real neurons in mouse brain tissue. The artificial neurons are created using aerosol jet printing with electronic inks containing molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and graphene on polymer substrates. This method allows for the formation of conductive filaments that produce diverse spiking patterns, including single spikes, continuous firing, and bursting, at biologically relevant timescales. This breakthrough, published on April 15, 2026, in *Nature Nanotechnology*, moves closer to brain-machine interfaces and addresses the massive power consumption issues of current AI systems by drawing inspiration from the brain's five orders of magnitude greater energy efficiency.

Key takeaway

For AI Hardware Engineers designing next-generation computing systems, this research indicates a viable path toward significantly more energy-efficient AI. Your focus should shift towards heterogeneous, dynamic, and three-dimensional architectures that mimic biological neural networks, potentially integrating printable MoS2-graphene artificial neurons to reduce power consumption and water demands currently straining data centers.

Key insights

Printed artificial neurons can directly communicate with living brain cells, enabling energy-efficient brain-inspired computing.

Principles

• Brain-inspired hardware improves AI energy efficiency.
• Heterogeneous, dynamic networks outperform fixed silicon.
• Partial polymer decomposition enhances memristive device function.

Method

Aerosol jet printing deposits MoS2 and graphene inks onto flexible polymers. Partial polymer decomposition creates conductive filaments, enabling complex, biologically relevant electrical spiking patterns in artificial neurons.

In practice

• Develop brain-machine interfaces for neuroprosthetics.
• Design AI hardware with reduced energy consumption.
• Utilize MoS2 and graphene for flexible bio-compatible electronics.

Topics

• Artificial Neurons
• Brain-Machine Interfaces
• Neuroprosthetics
• Energy-Efficient AI Hardware
• Aerosol Jet Printing

Best for: AI Scientist, AI Hardware Engineer, Research Scientist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Artificial Intelligence News -- ScienceDaily.