Research from Ohio State University has found that fungi such as shiitake can serve as organic memristor materials, providing a new pathway for developing bioelectronic computing technologies. This study, published in PLOS One, demonstrates the potential applications of fungal memristors in data storage and processing.

The research team cultivated samples of shiitake and white button mushrooms, dehydrated them, and connected them to dedicated circuits for electrical signal testing. John LaRocco, a research scientist in psychiatry, stated: "Being able to develop a microchip that mimics real neural activity means the machine doesn't need to use a lot of electricity when idle. This could bring significant computational and economic advantages." These fungal memristors exhibit repeatable memory characteristics similar to semiconductor chips.

In the experiments, researchers attached wires to different parts of the mushrooms for testing. LaRocco noted: "Depending on the voltage and connection methods, we observed different performance manifestations." When used as random access memory, the fungal memristors achieved 5,850 signal switches per second with an accuracy of about 90%. Although performance declined with increasing voltage frequency, it could be compensated by adding more mushrooms to the circuit.

"Fungal memristors offer advantages such as biodegradability and low manufacturing energy consumption. Compared to traditional semiconductor memristors that require rare earth minerals and large data centers, this bioelectronic computing material is more sustainable. Assistant Professor Qudsia Tahmina in Electrical and Computer Engineering said: "Society is increasingly concerned about environmental protection, which may be one of the factors driving the development of these bio-friendly concepts."

The research shows that fungal memristors can be programmed to achieve specific functions, with their flexibility enabling system scalability. Large-scale fungal computing systems could be applied in edge computing and aerospace fields, while small-scale systems would suit autonomous devices and wearable technologies. Although organic memristors are still in the early stages of development, further optimization of performance can be achieved through improved cultivation techniques and miniaturization processes.

The development of this bioelectronic computing material embodies the integration of technological innovation with the natural world. LaRocco emphasized: "From compost materials to prefabricated template cultivation factories, exploring the resources needed for fungal computing is feasible under current conditions."