We live in the digital age, where computers have transformed almost every part of our lives. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing quickly, thanks to improvements in machine and deep learning and new kinds of computer hardware, including brain-like systems called neuromorphic architectures. However, computing itself is not new — it has always been a fundamental part of life on the Planet. Every living organism acts like a natural computer, gathering and processing information from its surroundings and internal state to respond appropriately. This natural ability to process information has inspired scientists to explore new ways of computing, including “bioware,” which uses biological materials to create computer-like systems. Despite many exciting discoveries, using real brain cells to build practical biological computers has not yet received as much attention.
Neurobiological computing is a new research frontier that aims to fill this gap, establishing computing in biological neuronal networks.