Critique Essay: Evaluating The Economist Article on Artificial Neurons

This essay presents a critical review of an article from The Economist titled “You’ve got a nerve,” which discusses IBM's research on creating artificial neurons led by Evangelos Eleftheriou. The essay summarizes the article's main points, focusing on the use of electronic switches and tuned transistors to mimic real neurons while consuming less power. It evaluates the evidence presented, highlighting the use of germanium antinomy telluride in phase-change materials to replicate neuron firing. The critique assesses the validity and accuracy of the research, referencing Dr. Mead's experiments and the potential of neuromorphic computing. The essay concludes that the evidence is authentic, supporting the idea that phase-change materials can effectively create artificial neurons and contribute to advancements in neuromorphic computing, making it a significant step in mimicking real neurons.

Running head: CRITIQUE WRITING
Critique writing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
An article published by The Economist, “You’ve got a nerve” stated that the researchers
at IBM’s research laboratory led by Evangelos Eleftheriou had worked in building an artificial
and working version of a neuron. The main idea of making artificial neurons is highlighted in
this article using electronic switches and tuned transistors. The researchers’ team has arranged
electronic neurons in their paces with appropriate inputs that can become equivalent to the real
neuron consuming less power (Economist.com 2018).
Summary
The researchers at IBM invented germanium antinomy telluride tiny blob that is
sandwiched between two electrodes called phase-change as it alters while electricity passes
through it. It starts as distorted blob and when there is application of low-voltage electrical jolt,
there is heating up of small portion while the coil rearranges itself in order with high
conductivity. Application of such jolts makes it conductive to pass current and finally neuron
fires as a real one. In addition, application of high voltage current melts down the crystals and
finally reset the artificial neuron. This arrangement mimics a real neuron as invented by Dr
Eleftheriou and his researchers.
The researcher is attempting to link such artificial neurons into networks in small
versions that can be tuned and attached to sensors designed for pattern recognition tasks like face
or speech with efficient running software on standard circuitry. This experiment can be a
breakthrough and conceptual gap between real and artificial brains can shrink a bit further. This
idea of designing computers that resemble brains is called neuromorphic computing and this idea
led to the invention of artificial neuron by Dr. Eleftheriou and his team.

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Review and Evaluate
Evangelos Eleftheriou is a renowned Greek electrical engineer and researcher expertise in
nanopositioning, storage technologies, neuromorphic computing and big-data storage. The
researcher and his team has performed break through research in mimicking human brain and its
computational capabilities in building low power cognitive computer systems. The evidence is
accurate as they are successful in building spiking neurons and artificial synapses. The author
used logical evidence as he stated that through chalcogenide phase-change materials use and
inherent stochasticity, neurons are able to compute and work in similar way as the human brain
information processing takes place. The author is successful in proving his point and supported
by Dr. Mead experiment where artificial neuromorphic systems acts as indispensable tool for
understanding human brain and exploring nanoscale synapse counterparts. The evidence is valid
as by exploiting the reversible phase transitions from amorphous to crystal, temporal integration
of postsynaptic potentials is achievable in nanosecond timescale. In addition, melt-quench
atomic structure configuration occurrence can help in resetting the neuron.
Conclusion
The evidence provided by the author is authentic as phase-change materials can help in
creating artificial neurons, as membrane potential exhibited by phase configuration can be
helpful in achieving postsynaptic potentials in nanoseconds timeframe. As neurons are
considered pattern-recognition devices, so it can be connected to hundreds or dozens of network
passing electrical signals in a back and forth motion. If sufficient strong signals are received in a
short span of time, it can jolt or fire electricity to other neurons and fire. Therefore, this work is

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an important discovery and an instance in achieving success in mimicking real neurons in the
neuromorphic computing.

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Reference
Economist.com 2018. You’ve got a nerve. [online] The Economist. Available at:
https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2016/08/06/youve-got-a-nerve [Accessed
26 Jun. 2018].