FLEXIBILITY AND CORTICAL TEACHING IN A HIPPOCAMPAL MODEL

University Of Virginia Charlottesville, Charlottesville VA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Several variations on the transitive inference task (e.g., if a>b, b>c, c>d, d>e, e>f, then c?e;Levy & Wu, 1996) will be simulated on a neurobiologically plausible model of the CA3 region of the hippocampus (e.g. Levy, 1996). In one variation, the task will be circularized (i.e. add f>a to the constraints above), so that there is no absolute answer to any comparison (e.g., e?a). It is hypothesized that the model will find the best local solution (e.g. e<a). In another variation parallel and nested constraints will be tested (e.g. a-e are specified as above, and l>m, m>n, n>o;m>c, then d?l). Model performance will be compared to existing results for humans and animals. Additional data will be provided by the animal laboratories of Dr. Howard Eichenbaum, and by human laboratories at the University of Virginia. The model will be augmented to simulate the cortical teaching function of the hippocampus. A cortical system will be added to the model, which will have a globally slower learning rate, discrete regions with few inter-regional but more intra-regional connections, and unique inputs to those regions which may or may not be correlated. Questions to be addressed will include, the capacity for permanent storage in the cortical system, improved inter-regional integration, and the time sequence for transferring information to the cortical system.