Abstract
The acquisition, integration and storage of exogenous associated signals are termed as associative learning and memory. The consequences and processes of associative thinking and logical reasoning based on these stored exogenous signals can be memorized as endogenous signals, which are essential for decision making, intention, and planning. Associative memory cells recruited in these primary and secondary associative memories are presumably the foundation for the brain to fulfill cognition events and emotional reactions in life, though the plasticity of synaptic connectivity and neuronal activity has been believed to be involved in learning and memory. Current reports indicate that associative memory cells are recruited by their mutual synapse innervations among co-activated brain regions to fulfill the integration, storage and retrieval of associated signals. The activation of these associative memory cells initiates information recall in the mind, and the successful activation of their downstream neurons endorses memory presentations through behaviors and emotion reactions. In this review, we aim to draw a comprehensive diagram for associative memory cells, working principle and modulation, as well as propose their roles in cognition, emotion and behaviors.
Highlights
The acquisition, integration and storage of exogenous associated signals are termed as associative learning and memory
Their recruitment and functional upregulation essentially determine the efficiency of learning and memorizing associated signals. Their activation and persistent activity lead to the recall of memorized associated signals in the mind, and the presentation of stored signals by behaviors if they successfully activate memory-output cells. Morphological basis for these associative memory cells to encode associated signals is their receptions of innate input and new synapse innervations from co-activated brain areas
Based on the localization of associative memory cells, they are classified into primary groups to integrate exogenous signals in sensory cortices and to innervate neurons in cognition and emotion brain areas, as well as secondary groups to receive innervations from primary groups and to integrate endogenous signals during cognitive processes
Summary
In the transformation from exogenous signals to endogenous signals and their integrative storages[3,29,30,31], the efficiency to correlate associative memory with cognitive processes and emotional reactions is a critical issue In this process, the interaction between primary and secondary associative memory cells based on their mutual synapse innervation (Figure 1), as well as the number, function state and plasticity of these associative memory cells, should be accounted during logical reasoning and associative thinking. Simple images with different intramodal features and words based on letters are jointly learnt to activate neurons in visual and auditory cortices With their mutual synapse innervation, associative memory cells (AMC) are recruited in intramodal and cross-modal manners including AMCs for pictures (AMCPP), for letters (AMCLL) as well as for pictures and words (AMCPL). The upregulated associative memory cells in sensory cortices will lead to hallucination, and the upregulated associative memory cells in cognition and emotionrelated brain areas leads to delusion
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