Today, neurobiology stands at an exciting crossroads. In their quest to unravel the secrets of the brain, a number of approaches, such as molecular and cellular biology, genetics, imaging, physiology, and behavioral studies are converging. In the past, each of these approaches has contributed significantly to our understanding of the brain. But now, it is their convergence that yields exciting results at an ever increasing pace.
Our biological knowledge has reached a level of resolution that allows it to take full advantage of micro- and nano-scale electronic engineering. Although neuro-electronics is still in its infancy, it has some major advantages over other technological approaches. For one, it allows bi-directional communication between neurons and hardware at multiple contact points per cell. For communication through electrical, chemical, or optical interaction. In the future, simultaneous measurements of the activity of thousands of neurons in a network should become possible, both in vitro and in vivo.