Computers are often called electronic brains, though they are different from the human variety in fundamental ways. IBM believes it is bridging the gap.

Big Blue on Thursday is announcing two experimental chips that are structured more like the brain, and could become building blocks for what IBM is calling cognitive computing. The eventual goal is to make machines that can more closely emulate the way humans perceive, learn and take action--using much less space and energy than powerful conventional computers.

"Today's...