Keynote speaker

The processes are studied that determine the interfacing between the elementary components of brain and computer. One goal is to develop hybrids that allow the study of information processing in neuronal networks. Another aim is to provide a basis for improved neuroprosthetic devices. Care is taken that electrochemical reactions are excluded to avoid any damage of hard and soft matter. (i) The nature of cell/chip contact is addressed with core-coat conductor models. (ii) Capacitors and transistors are fabricated with simple silicon chips and CMOS chips. (iii) The structure of cell/chip contacts is optically investigated on a nanometer and micrometer scale. (iv) The resistance of cell-chip contacts is probed by thermal noise. (v) The mechanism of capacitor stimulation and transistor recording is elucidated with recombinant ion channels. (vi) Stimulation and recording are characterized with nerve cells from snail and rat. (vii) Simple hybrids are implemented with two-way silicon chips. (viii) Rabbit retinae are attached to CMOS chips for stimulation and. (ix) Brain slices are interfaced. Their dynamics is visualized at a high spatial resolution with CMOS chips. (x) Needle chips with capacitors and transistors are fabricated and tested in brain tissue.