System on chips (SoCs) based on a microprocessor or a neural processor (e.g., brain-inspired processor) electrically coupled with electronic memory devices and/or optically coupled with an optical memory device, along with embodiment(s) of a building block (an element) of the microprocessor/neural processor, the electronic memory device and the optical memory device are disclosed. It should be noted that a microprocessor can include a graphical processor. Furthermore, two or more microprocessors/graphical processors/neural processors (or even a network of microprocessors/graphical processors/neural processors) can be coupled with an optical switch to mimic a (biological) cognitive system.