Embodiments of the invention are directed to a resistive switching device (RSD). A non-limiting example of the RSD includes a fin-shaped element formed on a substrate, wherein the fin-shaped element includes a source region, a central channel region, and a drain region. A gate is formed over a top surface and sidewalls of the central channel region. The fin-shaped element is doped with impurities that generate interstitial charged particles configured to move interstitially through a lattice structure of the fin-shaped element under the influence of an electric field applied to the RSD.