Neuromorphic Sensory Functions in Neuro-robotics and Bionics and the Underlying Biological Processes

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Background

Neuromorphic artefacts emulate the spike-based neuronal signalling and computation of their biological analogues. Recent science-grounded technological developments in the field showed great promises at component and subsystem level of afferent information chains, with demonstrations of rich and quasi-natural artificial sensory and cognition functions.

Success examples with high technology readiness level on the sensory pathways can be particularly found in the attempts to mimic or restore physical senses such as vision, audition and touch. The core applications of neuromorphic sensory systems are in neuro-robotics and bionics.

In neuro-robotics, the afferent sensory chains feed artificial neuronal architectures that implement perception and decision with lean and effective event-based logics, capitalizing on the efficiency of spike-based signalling and on the optimality principles that are embodied in biology. Neuro-robotics grounds on a paradigm shift with respect to traditional artificial intelligence and robotics: rather than on instruction-based computation and execution via programming, it relies on architecture-based cognition and learning via adaptation of the artificial neuronal connectivity. Neuro-robotic applications of neuromorphic sensors include various morphologies or functions, such as humanoid and animaloid robots, exploratory and service robots.

In bionics, spike-based sensors are interfaced with the remnant afferent neuronal pathways. The capability to emulate to some extent the ‘natural language’ of biological sensory receptors and the progresses in neural interfaces are driving the field towards consolidated clinical practice with large-scale trials in vision and audition prostheses and with pilot human case studies in bionic touch for artificial limbs.

The progresses in the implementation of neuromorphic sensory systems, yet for neuro-robotics but particularly for bionics, rely on the improved understanding of the underlying biological processes but at the same time they contribute with feedbacks to the scientific quest. Hence, both neuro-robotics and bionics application scenarios of neuromorphic sensory functions capitalize on interdisciplinary synergies between a variety of scientific communities, and this research topic grounds on such bridges.

Relevant topics include (but are not limited to):
• Neuromorphic physical sensory systems
• Neuromorphic chemical sensory systems
• Neuromorphic architectures for computation and cognition
• Theoretical studies about neuromorphic encoding, signalling or decoding
• Neuromorphic sensorimotor functions in neuro-robotics
• Neuromorphic sensors for bionic prostheses and internal organs
• Neuroscientific investigations and models about biological sensorimotor functions

Research papers and reviews are particularly encouraged, however any form of manuscript admitted in the Frontiers editorial guidelines will be eligible in this Research Topic.

Keywords: neuromorphic artificial senses, neuromorphic computation and cognition, neuromorphic sensors for neuro-robotics, neuromorphic sensors for bionics, neurophysiology of natural senses

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