A simple electronic analog of the postsynaptic membrane: The NEUROBIOFET

A simple electronic circuit is proposed as an analog of the postsynaptic membrane of neuron. In this circuit, the variable conductance of postsynaptic membrane of neuron dependence on the acetylcholine-receptor binding activity is represented by enzyme field effect transistor (ENFET) sensitive to acetylcholine. ENFET functions not only as a voltage controlled conductance but can also provide a means of measurement of specific neurotransmitters that bind with the receptor sites of postsynaptic membrane. The simulated sodium conductance is reproduced satisfactorily and the simulated excitatory post synaptic potential is very similar to the experimentally recorded one. Since this analog contains only a few electronic elements, it is small and inexpensive to build. The simplicity may make it an ideal unit to build complex neuron networks.