A diversity of interneurons and Hebbian plasticity facilitate rapid compressible learning in the hippocampus

The hippocampus is able to rapidly learn incoming information, even if that information is only observed once. Furthermore, this information can be replayed in a compressed format in either forward or reverse modes during sharp wave–ripples (SPW–Rs). We leveraged state-of-the-art techniques in training recurrent spiking networks to demonstrate how primarily interneuron networks can achieve the following: (1) generate internal theta sequences to bind externally elicited spikes in the presence of inhibition from the medial septum; (2) compress learned spike sequences in the form of a SPW–R when septal inhibition is removed; (3) generate and refine high-frequency assemblies during SPW–R-mediated compression; and (4) regulate the inter-SPW interval timing between SPW–Rs in ripple clusters. From the fast timescale of neurons to the slow timescale of behaviors, interneuron networks serve as the scaffolding for one-shot learning by replaying, reversing, refining, and regulating spike sequences. How does the hippocampus learn with only a single presentation of a stimulus? Nicola and Clopath show how interneuron networks can dilate pre-existing spike sequences during sharp waves into theta sequences for one-shot learning.