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WORKING MEMORY AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS: THE IMPLICATIONS OF NEURAL POPULATIONS

Verduzco-Flores, Sergio Oscar (2011) WORKING MEMORY AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS: THE IMPLICATIONS OF NEURAL POPULATIONS. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Working memory, the ability to temporarily retain information which will be used to guidesubsequent behavior, is a central component of our cognitive abilities. Almost 40 years ago,electrophysiological experiments in monkeys established that persistent activity may be theneuronal substrate of working memory. Many computational models have been proposedin order to explain persistent activity, with recurrent connections playing a prominent rolein many of these. No model, however, has captured all the important features in workingmemory networks. This work presents three related models which seek to understand someof these features. In particular, the first model explores the formation of firing rate patternsduring the delay period of working memory tasks; the second model explores the dynamicsof working memory networks with reduced inhibition, and their possible role in epilepsy;the third model explores the formation of temporal sequences and closed loops of activity.The three models assume the existence of densely connected neural populations (such asminicolumns), which respond similarly to the same stimuli. Another common feature is therole of dynamic synapses: the first two models rely on synaptic facilitation, whereas thethird uses temporally asymmetric Hebbian plasticity.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Verduzco-Flores, Sergio Oscarsubquantic@yahoo.com
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairErmentrout, Bardbard@pitt.eduBARD
Committee MemberDoiron, Brentbrent.doiron@gmail.com
Committee MemberRubin, Jonathanrubin@math.pitt.eduJONRUBIN
Committee MemberBodner, Markmbodner@mindresearch.net
Committee MemberUrban, Nathannurban@cmu.edu
Date: 1 July 2011
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 17 December 2010
Approval Date: 1 July 2011
Submission Date: 6 January 2011
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Mathematics
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: oscillations; sequences; epilepsy; working memory
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-01062011-234256/, etd-01062011-234256
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:30
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:35
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/6267

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