# The importance of space and time in neuromorphic cognitive agents

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.09791 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.09791/

## Key facts

- Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 26 Feb 2019.

## Built on by (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [DYNAP-SE2: a scalable multi-core dynamic neuromorphic asynchronous spiking neural network processor](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.00564/) (2023)
- [Supervised training of spiking neural networks for robust deployment on mixed-signal neuromorphic processors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.06408/) (2021)
- [The Role of Temporal Hierarchy in Spiking Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.18838/) (2024)
- [Instantaneous Stereo Depth Estimation of Real-World Stimuli with a Neuromorphic Stereo-Vision Setup](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.02541/) (2021)
- [Modern Neuromorphic AI: From Intra-Token to Inter-Token Processing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.00245/) (2026)
- [Spatiotemporal Pattern Recognition in Single Mixed-Signal VLSI Neurons with Heterogeneous Dynamic Synapses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.05686/) (2021)
- [Demonstration of Superconducting Optoelectronic Single-Photon Synapses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.09665/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Artificial neural networks and computational neuroscience models have made tremendous progress, allowing computers to achieve impressive results in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as image recognition, natural language processing, or autonomous driving. Despite this remarkable progress, biological neural systems consume orders of magnitude less energy than today's artificial neural networks and are much more agile and adaptive. This efficiency and adaptivity gap is partially explained by the computing substrate of biological neural processing systems that is fundamentally different from the way today's computers are built. Biological systems use in-memory computing elements operating in a massively parallel way rather than time-multiplexed computing units that are reused in a sequential fashion. Moreover, activity of biological neurons follows continuous-time dynamics in real, physical time, instead of operating on discrete temporal cycles abstracted away from real-time. Here, we present neuromorphic processing devices that emulate the biological style of processing by using parallel instances of mixed-signal analog/digital circuits that operate in real time. We argue that this approach brings significant advantages in efficiency of computation. We show examples of embodied neuromorphic agents that use such devices to interact with the environment and exhibit autonomous learning.