A memristive device and mechanisms for providing and using the memristive device are described. The memristive device includes a nanowire, a plurality of memristive plugs and a plurality of electrodes. The nanowire has a conductive core and an insulator coating at least a portion of the conductive core. The insulator has a plurality of apertures therein. The memristive plugs are for the apertures. At least a portion of each of the memristive plugs resides in each of the apertures. The memristive plugs are between the conductive core and the electrodes.