Neuronal arithmetic operators based on Ovonic threshold switches (OTS) for biologically inspired analog computing

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Hwang, Jingyeong, Lee, Jaesang, Bang, Jiin, Lee, Younghyun, Kang, Unhyeon, Oh, Seungmin, Lee, Kyungmin, Park, Jaehyun, Park, Seongsik, Jang, Hyun Jae, Kim, Sangbum, Park, Min Hyuk, Lee, Suyoun
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Hwang, Jingyeong
Lee, Jaesang
Bang, Jiin
Lee, Younghyun
Kang, Unhyeon
Oh, Seungmin
Lee, Kyungmin
Park, Jaehyun
Park, Seongsik
Jang, Hyun Jae
Kim, Sangbum
Park, Min Hyuk
Lee, Suyoun
author_facet Hwang, Jingyeong
Lee, Jaesang
Bang, Jiin
Lee, Younghyun
Kang, Unhyeon
Oh, Seungmin
Lee, Kyungmin
Park, Jaehyun
Park, Seongsik
Jang, Hyun Jae
Kim, Sangbum
Park, Min Hyuk
Lee, Suyoun
contents Biological neurons perform arithmetic computations - including additive integration and divisive gain modulation - through synaptic conductance changes and shunting inhibition, enabling context-dependent information processing that far exceeds simple threshold-and-fire models. Replicating these capabilities in compact hardware remains a fundamental challenge for neuromorphic engineering. Here, we demonstrate artificial neuron circuits based on Ovonic threshold switches (OTS) that physically implement three arithmetic operations: SUM, PARALLEL, and DIVISION. The SUM and PARALLEL neurons exploit MOSFET-controlled dendritic conductances, producing output firing rates that collapse onto invariant curves as a function of combined inputs - satisfying the canonical criteria for neuronal addition. The DIVISION neuron leverages a JFET-based shunting pathway, inspired by GABA_A-mediated inhibition in the cortex, to achieve divisive gain modulation well described by a Hill-type function (R2 ~ 0.95, Hill exponent n ~ 1.3), consistent with nonlinear normalization observed in visual and olfactory circuits. Applying the DIVISION neuron to pixel-wise image normalization under non-uniform illumination recovers obscured visual content, mirroring contrast normalization in the visual cortex. Compared to CMOS-based division implementations, the proposed approach offers improvements in energy efficiency and scalability exceeding an order of magnitude, establishing a viable path toward compact, brain-inspired analog computing.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_27650
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Neuronal arithmetic operators based on Ovonic threshold switches (OTS) for biologically inspired analog computing
Hwang, Jingyeong
Lee, Jaesang
Bang, Jiin
Lee, Younghyun
Kang, Unhyeon
Oh, Seungmin
Lee, Kyungmin
Park, Jaehyun
Park, Seongsik
Jang, Hyun Jae
Kim, Sangbum
Park, Min Hyuk
Lee, Suyoun
Applied Physics
Biological neurons perform arithmetic computations - including additive integration and divisive gain modulation - through synaptic conductance changes and shunting inhibition, enabling context-dependent information processing that far exceeds simple threshold-and-fire models. Replicating these capabilities in compact hardware remains a fundamental challenge for neuromorphic engineering. Here, we demonstrate artificial neuron circuits based on Ovonic threshold switches (OTS) that physically implement three arithmetic operations: SUM, PARALLEL, and DIVISION. The SUM and PARALLEL neurons exploit MOSFET-controlled dendritic conductances, producing output firing rates that collapse onto invariant curves as a function of combined inputs - satisfying the canonical criteria for neuronal addition. The DIVISION neuron leverages a JFET-based shunting pathway, inspired by GABA_A-mediated inhibition in the cortex, to achieve divisive gain modulation well described by a Hill-type function (R2 ~ 0.95, Hill exponent n ~ 1.3), consistent with nonlinear normalization observed in visual and olfactory circuits. Applying the DIVISION neuron to pixel-wise image normalization under non-uniform illumination recovers obscured visual content, mirroring contrast normalization in the visual cortex. Compared to CMOS-based division implementations, the proposed approach offers improvements in energy efficiency and scalability exceeding an order of magnitude, establishing a viable path toward compact, brain-inspired analog computing.
title Neuronal arithmetic operators based on Ovonic threshold switches (OTS) for biologically inspired analog computing
topic Applied Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.27650