A team of researchers from Penn State has unveiled a groundbreaking development: an electronic tongue capable of simulating how taste influences our food choices based on both physiological needs and psychological desires.
It holds the potential to serve as a blueprint for artificial intelligence (AI) systems that process information more akin to human cognition.
Infusing Emotions Into AI
Dr. Saptarshi Das, the study's lead author and an associate professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, noted that their primary focus was infusing emotional intelligence into AI.
He emphasized that while psychology delves into the intricate realm of human behavior, computer engineers rely on mathematical models and diverse data sets for their designs.
Das exemplified the concept through the prism of eating habits, pointing out the interplay between physiological and psychological states. He noted that gustation, a sensory process involving taste, plays a vital role in our dietary choices, distinct from the physiological urge to consume when hungry.
Das clarified that individuals are inclined to choose foods they find most appealing, favoring sweetness over bitterness, even when sated. The researchers elaborated on the intricacies of the gustatory process, explaining how taste receptors on the tongue convert chemical information into electrical signals.
These signals are then transmitted via neurons to the brain's gustatory cortex, shaping taste perception. The team managed to replicate this process using electronic components, including a graphene-based electronic "tongue" and a simulated "gustatory cortex" composed of 2D materials.
The electronic tastebuds, equipped with tiny graphene-based chemitransistors, detect gas or chemical molecules. The other component of the circuit employs memtransistors, which retain past signals, constructed with molybdenum disulfide.
This intricate setup culminates in an "electronic gustatory cortex" connecting physiological "hunger neurons," psychological "appetite neurons," and a "feeding circuit."
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Potential Applications
The potential applications of such a robotic gustatory system are far-reaching, from AI-driven diet plans based on emotional intelligence to personalized menu offerings in restaurants.
The researchers' upcoming goal is to expand the electronic tongue's taste range, emulating the human ability to discern subtle differences in tastes. The next milestone involves creating an integrated gustatory chip, combining the tongue component and the gustatory circuit into one chip for further simplification.
Looking ahead, this concept of gustatory emotional intelligence could extend to other senses, potentially revolutionizing advanced AI development. The researchers envision refining these circuits to mirror human behavior more closely and leveraging a deeper understanding of the brain to enhance this technology further.
"We are trying to make arrays of graphene devices to mimic the 10,000 or so taste receptors we have on our tongue that are each slightly different compared to the others, which enables us to distinguish between subtle differences in tastes," Das said.
"The example I think of is people who train their tongue and become a wine taster. Perhaps in the future we can have an AI system that you can train to be an even better wine taster," he added.
The findings of the team were published in the journal Nature Communications.
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