Abstract: Biological neuron is the basic unit for signal processing in the nervous system, and its complex anatomical structure and synaptic plasticity enable it’s self-adaption to external stimuli. As a result, its firing modes and pattern become rich and diverse. In different functional regions in brain, these neurons are clustered in networks and they are cooperated to encode all external stimuli. Neurons from different regions of the brain are communicated by triggering synchronous states in and between multi-layer networks, and then the body and organs are guided to behave suitable gaits. The collective electric activities are dependent on the local kinetics, connection links and biophysical properties of the coupling channels, topological types and physical effects as well. Researchers can start possible investigations by building reliable biophysical neuron models, enhancing the controllability of the coupling channels, exploring the energy properties when synchronization stability and pattern formation are regulated in the networks, clarifying the physical mechanism for noise driving, discovering the biophysical mechanism for frequency selection and wave filtering. And these findings can be helpful to recognize the mode response and prevent the occurrence of some neural diseases. This review aims to enhance the biophysical function of an isolated neuron, for example, a variety of electric components are incorporated into branch circuits of a generic nonlinear circuit for detecting and discerning the temperature, illumination, acoustic wave, external magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation, respectively, and different functional neural circuits are obtained. Furthermore, exchange and propagation of field energy in neuron, frequency selection in the auditory neuron and visual neuron, energy pumping and energy consumption in the coupling channel, field energy to Hamilton energy under scale transformation, field coupling synchronization to resonance synchronization, pattern selection and synchronization stability in neural network, are discussed and investigated for possible guidance. These systematic introduction and comments on the functional enhancement of neurons and dynamics in networks have potential guidance and help for further building intelligent functional neuron array and devices.

Key words: memristive neuron, thermosensitive neuron, light-sensitive neuron, piezoelectric neuron, Josephson junction, Hamilton energy, wave filtering