CS5720 - Week 1
Slide 2 of 20

Biological vs Artificial Neurons

🧠 Biological Neuron

Soma
  • Dendrites: Receive signals from other neurons
  • Cell Body: Processes incoming signals
  • Axon: Transmits signals to other neurons
  • Synapses: Connection points between neurons

🤖 Artificial Neuron

x₁
w₁
x₂
w₂
x₃
w₃
Σ
f(x)
  • Inputs: Receive weighted signals (x₁, x₂, ...)
  • Weights: Multiply inputs (w₁, w₂, ...)
  • Summation: Add weighted inputs + bias
  • Activation: Apply function f(x) to produce output

Key Comparisons

Aspect Biological Neuron Artificial Neuron
Signal Type Electrochemical impulses Numerical values
Processing Complex biochemical reactions Mathematical operations
Speed Milliseconds Nanoseconds
Energy ~20 watts (entire brain) Varies (often much higher)
Plasticity Continuous adaptation Adjusted through training
Connections ~10,000 per neuron Typically dozens to hundreds
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Prepared by Dr. Gorkem Kar