Decision Making by a Neuromorphic Network of Volatile Resistive Switching Memories

Abstract: The necessity of having an electronic device working in relevant biological time scales with a small footprint boosted the research of a new class of emerging memories. Ag-based volatile resistive switching memories (RRAMs) feature a spontaneous change of device conductance with a similarity to biological mechanisms. They rely on the formation and self-disruption of a metallic conductive filament through an oxide layer, with a retention time ranging from a few milliseconds to several seconds, greatly tunable according to the maximum current which is flowing through the device. Here we prove a neuromorphic system based on volatile-RRAMs able to mimic the principles of biological decision-making behavior and tackle the Two-Alternative Forced Choice problem, where a subject is asked to make a choice between two possible alternatives not relying on a precise knowledge of the problem, rather on noisy perceptions.