Princeton Scientists Develop Living Computing Device Using Real Brain Cells

Researchers at Princeton University have successfully developed a three-dimensional computing device that integrates living human brain cells with advanced electronic systems. This innovative platform utilizes a flexible 3D mesh of microscopic wires and electrodes as a scaffold, allowing approximately 70,000 neurons to grow into a functional network capable of computation. Unlike previous two-dimensional cultures, this system interacts with cells from within the network, enabling precise recording and stimulation of electrical activity. Over six months, the team trained algorithms to recognize spatial and temporal patterns in neuronal pulses, demonstrating the device's learning capabilities. The project, led by Tian Ming Fu, James Sturm, and Kumar Mritunjay, aims to address two major challenges: understanding brain function and neurological diseases, and reducing the immense energy consumption associated with modern artificial intelligence. The researchers highlight that biological brains operate on a fraction of the power required by current AI systems, suggesting this bio-hybrid approach could offer a sustainable path forward for low-power computing while providing new insights into neuroscience.