Neuromorphic, Digital and Quantum Computation with Memory Circuit Elements

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of memory circuit elements like memristors and memcapacitors in neuromorphic, digital, and quantum computing, highlighting their potential to emulate biological processes and enhance computational schemes.

Contribution

It demonstrates how memory circuit elements can be integrated into various computing architectures, including neuromorphic and quantum systems, to perform logic, arithmetic, and associative memory functions.

Findings

Memory elements enable biologically-inspired neural architectures.

They facilitate digital logic and arithmetic operations.

Potential to expand quantum computation capabilities.

Abstract

Memory effects are ubiquitous in nature and the class of memory circuit elements - which includes memristors, memcapacitors and meminductors - shows great potential to understand and simulate the associated fundamental physical processes. Here, we show that such elements can also be used in electronic schemes mimicking biologically-inspired computer architectures, performing digital logic and arithmetic operations, and can expand the capabilities of certain quantum computation schemes. In particular, we will discuss few examples where the concept of memory elements is relevant to the realization of associative memory in neuronal circuits, spike-timing-dependent plasticity of synapses, digital and field-programmable quantum computing.