To make the artificial neurons, the researchers use an aerosol jet printer to deposit electronic inks onto a flexible polymer substrate. (Image credit: Northwestern University/Amanda B. Morris) Engineers have printed tiny, artificial neurons that can "talk" to mouse brain cells, and the development could pave the way to innovations in computing and medicine. The work, published April 15 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology , adds to a growing field that aims to build computers that mimic the inner workings of the brain. "We are trying to mimic the brain as faithfully as possible," said study co-author Mark Hersam , a professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern University. "What motivates us is to come up with an alternative to conventional digital computing to handle large amounts of data in a more energy-efficient way," he told Live Science. The work could also usher in new brain-computer interfaces, which enable electronic devices to be controlled with brain activity.…