Memories are at the core of being human. No other organism on Earth can think in the past, present, and future the way we can. However, in April of 2023, a team of scientists at the University of Sydney demonstrated that Nanowire Networks, an innate object, can exhibit short-term and long-term memory like the human brain.

Nanowires are a kind of nanotechnology. They are typically made from silver wires with a diameter of a nanometer, or 1 billionth of a meter. A collection of such wires is known as a Nanowire Network, which can integrate memories and process information similar to the human brain.

This is the first piece of non-biological hardware to emulate higher-order cognitive functions like systematic decision-making, critical thinking, brainstorming, and recollection of memories. The nanowires act like neurons (human brain cells that convey information), and the places where the wires connect are similar to synapses (when neurons meet and a neurological connection is formed).

To test the level of a Nanowire Network’s cognitive ability, researchers used the n-back test, which is usually administered to humans to test memory abilities. The n-back test in humans analyzes whether a person can remember an image shown to them seven images prior in a sequence.

For the Nanowire Network, scientists modified the test by forcing a sequence of pathways through the network using an electric current. By the end of testing, scientists found that the Nanowire Network could remember the pathway it was sent on seven steps back. This puts it on par with the human memory in terms of short-term memory. As for long-term memory, the scientists found that they had to guide the network through more pathways to build up its long-term memory.

Advances in Nanowire Networks hold many real-world applications, particularly in the field of technology. Ultimately a Nanowire Network makes human intelligence a physical attribute rather than a physiological one. This means that human-like learning and memory can be replicated in non-living objects like robots and sensors. This could be particularly useful for making robots and sensors that will be tasked with making decisions in unpredictable environments like cyber security.

Another possible application could be giving researchers another testing subject. If research is being conducted regarding new treatments for neurological disorders, a Nanowire Network could be used as a primary test subject. Additionally, a non-biological model of the human brain could open the doors to many discoveries regarding the human brain and its cognitive functions, which could open new doors for the human mind and how we view intelligence and memories.