Frog-Inspired Humidity-Responsive Brain Sensor

Why in News?

Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, have developed a frog-inspired neuromorphic sensor that responds to humidity and light.

Key Features -

• It is a type of advanced electronic device designed to mimic the way a biological brain processes information (Biological Mimicry).
• Technology Type – Neuromorphic sensor.
• Biological Inspiration – Cricket frogs, whose synaptic behaviour is highly sensitive to moisture and daylight.
• Material Base – One-dimensional supramolecular nanofibers.

Supramolecular nanofibers are one-dimensional nanostructures formed through the self-assembly of small molecules or polymers.

• Primary Stimulus – Humidity (first neuromorphic device to use moisture as main trigger).
• Secondary Stimulus – Light (modulates sensitivity).
• Functions – Sensing, memory storage, and signal processing simultaneously.
• Synaptic Functions Replicated – Facilitation, depression, meta-plasticity, and basic logic operations.
• Procedure –

• Conventional vs Frog-Inspired Sensor –

• Significance - Smart Environmental Monitoring - Adaptive sensors for humidity/climate changes.
• Healthcare Devices - Wearables that sense sweat/breathing with ultra-low power.
• AI (Artificial Intelligence) and IoT (Internet of Things) - Supports sustainable edge computing, reducing reliance on power-hungry server farms.
• Global First - First neuromorphic device using humidity as primary stimulus.

Reference

PIB | Neuromorphic Sensor