Brain-inspired computing via memory device physics

In our brain, information is exchanged among neurons in the form of spikes where both the space (which neuron fires) and time (when the neuron fires) contain relevant information. Every neuron is connected to other neurons by synapses, which are continuously created, updated, and stimulated to enable information processing and learning. Realizing the brain-like neuron/synapse network in silicon would enable artificial autonomous agents capable of learning, adaptation, and interaction with the environment. Toward this aim, the conventional microelectronic technology, which is based on complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors and the von Neumann computing architecture, does not provide the desired energy efficiency and scaling potential. A generation of emerging memory devices, including resistive switching random access memory (RRAM) also known as the memristor, can offer a wealth of physics-enabled processing capabilities, including multiplication, integration, potentiation, depression, and time-decaying stimulation, which are suitable to recreate some of the fundamental phenomena of the human brain in silico. This work provides an overview about the status and the most recent updates on brain-inspired neuromorphic computing devices. After introducing the RRAM device technologies, we discuss the main computing functionalities of the human brain, including neuron integration and fire, dendritic filtering, and short- and long-term synaptic plasticity. For each of these processing functions, we discuss their proposed implementation in terms of materials, device structure, and brain-like characteristics. The rich device physics, the nano-scale integration, the tolerance to stochastic variations, and the ability to process information in situ make the emerging memory devices a promising technology for future brain-like hardware intelligence.