Simulating Synaptic Behaviors through Frequency Modulation in a Capacitor–Memristor Circuit

Abstract

Memristors, known for their adjustable and non-volatile resistance, offer a promising avenue for emulating synapses. However, achieving pulse frequency-dependent synaptic plasticity in memristors or memristive systems necessitates further exploration. In this study, we present a novel approach to modulate the conductance of a memristor in a capacitor–memristor circuit by finely tuning the frequency of input pulses. Our experimental results demonstrate that these phenomena align with the long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) observed in synapses, which are induced by the frequency of action potentials. Additionally, we successfully implement a Hebbian-like learning mechanism in a simple circuit that connects a pair of memristors to a capacitor, resulting in observed associative memory formation and forgetting processes. Our findings highlight the potential of capacitor–memristor circuits in faithfully replicating the frequency-dependent behavior of synapses, thereby offering a valuable contribution to the development of brain-inspired neural networks.

Keywords

• memristors
• LTD
• LTP
• synaptic plasticity
• Hebbian-like learning mechanism