From transient patterns to persistent structures: A model of episodic memory formation via cortico-hippocampal interactions

We readily acquire memories of events and situations in our daily lives. There is a broad consensus that the hippocampal system (HS) plays a critical role in the encoding and retrieval of such “episodic” memories. But how the HS subserves this mnemonic function is not fully understood. This article presents a computational model, SMRITI, that demonstrates how a transient pattern of activity representing an event can be transformed rapidly into a persistent and robust memory trace as a result of long-term potentiation within structures whose architecture and circuitry resemble those of the HS. Predictions and implications of the model are discussed.