Brain–machine interfaces typically rely on electrophysiological signals to interpret and transmit neurological information. In biological systems, however, neurotransmitters are chemical-based interneuron messengers. This mismatch can potentially lead to incorrect interpretation of the transmitted neuron information. Here we report a chemically mediated artificial neuron that can receive and release the neurotransmitter dopamine. The artificial neuron detects dopamine using a carbon-based electrochemical sensor and then processes the sensory signals using a memristor with synaptic plasticity, before stimulating dopamine release through a heat-responsive hydrogel. The system responds to dopamine exocytosis from rat pheochromocytoma cells and also releases dopamine to activate pheochromocytoma cells, forming a chemical communication loop similar to interneurons. To illustrate the potential of this approach, we show that the artificial neuron can trigger the controllable movement of a mouse leg and robotic hand.

脑机接口通常依靠电生理信号来解释和传输神经信息。然而，在生物系统中，神经递质是基于化学的中间神经元信使。这种不匹配可能会导致对传输的神经元信息的错误解释。在这里，我们报告了一种化学介导的人工神经元，它可以接收和释放神经递质多巴胺。人工神经元使用碳基电化学传感器检测多巴胺，然后使用具有突触可塑性的忆阻器处理感觉信号，然后通过热响应水凝胶刺激多巴胺释放。该系统响应大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤细胞的多巴胺胞吐作用，并释放多巴胺以激活嗜铬细胞瘤细胞，形成类似于中间神经元的化学通讯回路。为了说明这种方法的潜力，我们展示了人工神经元可以触发鼠标腿和机械手的可控运动。