Associative Memory Cells in Physiological Psychology

Abstract

Associative memory and memory-related cognition have been extensively studied in psychology. Various memory patterns and theoretical models have been classified based on memory contents, content sources, memory accuracy, and consciousness states. Cellular mechanisms underlying these patterns and models are largely unknown since the experiments to reveal cellular processes cannot be studied in human beings up to now. The comprehensive cellular architectures of associative memory and memory-related behaviors may be figured out based on the profiles studied in rodents in order to understand memory regulation and to develop therapeutic strategies for memory deficit. Based on the working principles of associative memory cells and their networks in rodents, the author intends to provide some cellular architectures for explaining these patterns and theoretical models of associative memory. As discussed in Chap. 2, associative learning is a major approach in information acquisition. Associative memory is classified into distinct patterns and terms, such as explicit versus implicit memory, episodic versus semantic memory, perceptual versus working memory, intramodal versus cross-modal memory, and eidetic versus false memory. Furthermore, memory-relevant cognitions and emotions are complicated. Although associative thinking, logical reasoning, computation, imagination, pleasure, and fear are well defined, the expression of these processes is mixed in nature. In fact, these memory patterns and processes share certain common features, such as information-integrative memory, reciprocal memory retrieval, activity-dependent strengthening, and memory-unit linked cognitions. The synaptic and neuronal plasticity in a single pathway is not matching these features of memory and cognitions. Instead, associative memory cells and their featured interconnections may constitute the foundation of the memory patterns and memory-relevant behaviors. In this chapter, the potential links between associative memory cells in memory traces and these types of memories will be discussed.