A novel ergodic discrete difference equation multi-compartment neuron model: various dendritic phenomena and on-chip differential conditioning

Abstract

A novel membrane potential model whose nonlinear dynamics is described by an ergodic discrete difference equation is presented. It is shown that the model can exhibit various neuron-like behaviors depending on parameter values. Using the ergodic membrane potential model, a novel multi-compartment neuron model (soma-dendrite-synapse model) is presented. It is shown that the model can exhibit various dendritic phenomena depending on parameter values. Based on detailed analyses of the dendritic phenomena, a design procedure of the multi-compartment neuron model to realize conditioning functions is proposed. Furthermore, the neuron model is implemented by a field programmable gate array and experiments validate its conditioning functions. It is then shown that the proposed neuron model consumes much fewer hardware resources and much lower power than a typical conventional multi-compartment neuron model.