Cited by 1,471Neural dynamics and brain functionMemory and Neural MechanismsMemory Processes and Influences

Storage of 7 +/- 2 short-term memories in oscillatory subcycles

Lisman, John E., Idiart, Marco A. P.·1995·Science

Abstract

Psychophysical measurements indicate that human subjects can store approximately seven short-term memories. Physiological studies suggest that short-term memories are stored by patterns of neuronal activity. Here it is shown that activity patterns associated with multiple memories can be stored in a single neural network that exhibits nested oscillations similar to those recorded from the brain. Each memory is stored in a different high-frequency ("40 hertz") subcycle of a low-frequency oscillation. Memory patterns repeat on each low-frequency (5 to 12 hertz) oscillation, a repetition that relies on activity-dependent changes in membrane excitability rather than reverberatory circuits. This work suggests that brain oscillations are a timing mechanism for controlling the serial processing of short-term memories.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.7878473

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Authors
Lisman, J. E., & Idiart, M. A. P.
Affiliations
Brandeis University (US)
Venue
Science
Published
1995-03-10
Volume
267
Issue
5203
Pages
1512-1515
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2058491602
Cited by
1,471
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 55 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 64 · 2016: 56 · 2015: 56 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 58
FWCI
16.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS027337, NS-27337)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
short-term memory, memory storage, neural oscillations, low-frequency oscillations, artificial neural networks, serial processing, timing mechanism
MeSH terms
Computer Simulation, Feedback, Hippocampus, Humans, Interneurons, Membrane Potentials, Memory, Short-Term, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Neurons, Pyramidal Cells

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