Biomimetic neural network for modifying biological dynamics during hybrid experiments

Electrical stimulation of nerve tissue and recording of neural electrical activity are the basis of emerging prostheses and treatments for many neurological disorders. Here we present closed-loop bio-hybrid experiment using in vitro biological neuronal network (BNN) with an artificial neural network (ANN) implemented in a neuromorphic board. We adopted a neuromorphic board which is able to perform real-time event detection and trigger an electrical stimulation of the BNN. This system embeds an ANN, based on Izhikevich neurons which can be put in uni- and bi-directional communication with the BNN. The ANN used in the following experiments was made up of 20 excitatory neurons with inhibition synapse and with synaptic plasticity to design central pattern generator. Open-loop and closed-loop hybrid experiments show that the biological dynamics can be modified. This work can be seen as the first step towards the realization of an innovative neuroprosthesis.