Stanford Bioengineer Kwabena Boahen’s “Neurogrid” can simulate one million neurons and billions of synaptic connections. Neuromorphic systems realize the function of biological neural systems by emulating their structure. As I suggested in my own theory of consciousness, a successful artificial consciousness must have both structural and algorithmic components. The structural component must be involved in tuning and amplifying the fundamental awareness inherent in all physical matter for there to be true consciousness. In other words, consciousness can not be expressed purely through information manipulation using discrete rule-sets and algorithms.

The Neurogrid’s microchips are 9,000 times faster and uses significantly less power than those found in a typical PC. The inventors of the “Neurogrid” expect they should be able to bring the cost of a system board down to about $400 from the current cost of $40,000.

The abstract and technical paper can be found here: http://goo.gl/vwJPXn