Memory rescue and learning in synaptic impaired neuronal circuits

Kwan Tung Li; Daoyun Ji; Changsong Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106931

Memory rescue and learning in synaptic impaired neuronal circuits

iScience. 2023 May 29;26(7):106931. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106931. eCollection 2023 Jul 21.

Authors

Kwan Tung Li^{1

2}, Daoyun Ji^{3

4}, Changsong Zhou¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, Centre for Nonlinear Studies, Beijing-Hong Kong-Singapore Joint Centre for Nonlinear and Complex Systems (Hong Kong), Institute of Computational and Theoretical Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
² Research Center for Augmented Intelligence, Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou 311100, China.
³ Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
⁴ Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Abstract

Neuronal impairment is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its effect on neural activity dynamics underlying memory deficits is unclear. Here, we studied the effects of synaptic impairment on neural activities associated with memory recall, memory rescue, and learning a new memory, in an integrate-and-fire neuronal network. Our results showed that reducing connectivity decreases the neuronal synchronization of memory neurons and impairs memory recall performance. Although, slow-gamma stimulation rescued memory recall and slow-gamma oscillations, the rescue caused a side effect of activating mixed memories. During the learning of a new memory, reducing connectivity caused impairment in storing the new memory, but did not affect previously stored memories. We also explored the effects of other types of impairments including neuronal loss and excitation-inhibition imbalance and the rescue by general increase of excitability. Our results reveal potential computational mechanisms underlying the memory deficits caused by impairment in AD.

Keywords: Cognitive neuroscience; Molecular neuroscience; Neuroscience.