A physical channel model for nanoscale neuro-spike communications

Nanoscale communications is an appealing domain in nanotechnology. Novel nanoscale communications techniques are currently being devised inspired by some naturally existing phenomena such as the molecular communications governing cellular signaling mechanisms. Among these, neuro-spike communications, which governs the communications between neurons, is a vastly unexplored area. The ultimate goal of this paper is to accurately investigate nanoscale neuro-spike communications characteristics through the development of a realistic physical channel model between two neurons. The neuro-spike communications channel is analyzed based on the probability of error and delay in spike detection at the output. The derived communication theoretical channel model may help designing novel artificial nanoscale communications methods for the realization of future practical nanonetworks, which are the interconnections of nanomachines. © 1972-2012 IEEE