Bio-inspired models of memory capacity, recall performance and theta phase precession

<p>The hippocampus plays an important role in theencoding and retrieval of spatial and non-spatial memories.Much is known about the anatomical, physiological andmolecular characteristics as well as the connectivity andsynaptic properties of various cell types in the hippocampalcircuits [1], but how these detailed properties of individualneurons give rise to the encoding and retrieval of memoriesremains unclear. Computational models play an instrumentalrole in providing clues on how these processes may take place.Here, we present three computational models of the region CA1of the hippocampus at various levels of detail. Issues such asretrieval of memories as a function of cue loading, presentationfrequency and learning paradigm, memory capacity, recallperformance, and theta phase precession in the presence ofdopamine neuromodulation and various types of inhibitoryinterneurons are addressed. The models lead to a number ofexperimentally testable predictions that may lead to a betterunderstanding of the biophysical computations in thehippocampus.</p>