An in-silico glial microdomain to invoke excitability in cortical neural networks

Glial cells play an active role in the central nervous system. We present a CMOS neuromorphic circuit as part of the BioRC Biomimetic Real-time Cortex that emulates a glial microdomain, including several neurons interconnected in a small network. The glial cell, an astrocyte, influences neural behavior to stimulate a neuron to fire. Without glial intervention, the neuron would not have sufficient excitatory postsynaptic potential to fire. This circuit represents a first-order model of the reciprocal feedback between neurons and astrocytes involving gliotransmitters and neurotransmitters, and of the calcium concentrations induced in the astrocytes. Much more complex interaction has been observed and will be implemented in the future.