University of Twente Student Theses
Memory consolidation and prediction in an in silico neural network
Boons, J.H.C. (2022) Memory consolidation and prediction in an in silico neural network.
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| Abstract: | Theoretical work shows that memory consolidation and prediction are related (Hawkins, 2009). Memory consolidation was investigated in vitro. It was found that cortical cultures are unable to consolidate memory with a high cholinergic tone. Furthermore, a high cholinergic tone increased neuronal excitability and decreased network excitability. Theoretical work shows that the human brain is capable of predictive processing, which is necessary to maximize rewards. An in silico model was developed to investigate underlying mechanisms of cortical cultures (le Feber, 2015). Cortical cultures can consolidate multiple memory traces with low-frequency stimulation. However, the model can not consolidate a second memory trace due to high network stability. Furthermore, innervation with acetylcholine (ACh) only increased neuronal excitability. We opted to include synaptic scaling, a form of activity homeostasis. The model consists of 100 neurons, with short- and long-term synaptic effects. Simulations with and without acetylcholine are performed to investigate memory consolidation and prediction. Results show that the in silico network is less stable with activity homeostasis and that it is possible to induce a second memory trace with low-frequency stimulation. The increase in firing rate by ACh causes activity homeostasis to decrease the synaptic strengths that cause dispersed firing and hampers memory consolidation. We concluded that activity homeostasis is necessary for memory consolidation with low-frequency stimulation. Furthermore, activity homeostasis is responsible for the dynamic switch from a burst-dominated network to dispersed firing with ACh in the model. Prediction was not proven in this thesis, as stimulus responses provided the most information about stimuli. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | TNW: Science and Technology |
| Subject: | 44 medicine |
| Programme: | Biomedical Engineering MSc (66226) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/89650 |
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