Learning and replaying spatiotemporal sequences: A replication study

Abstract

Learning and replaying spatiotemporal sequences are fundamental computations performed by the brain and specifically the neocortex. These features are critical for a wide variety of cognitive functions, including sensory perception and the execution of motor and language skills. Although several computational models demonstrate this capability, many are either hard to reconcile with biological findings or have limited functionality. To address this gap, a recent study proposed a biologically plausible model based on a spiking recurrent neural network supplemented with read-out neurons. After learning, the recurrent network develops precise switching dynamics by successively activating and deactivating small groups of neurons. The read-out neurons are trained to respond to particular groups and can thereby reproduce the learned sequence. For the model to serve as the basis for further research, it is important to determine its replicability. In this Brief Report, we give a detailed description of the model and identify missing details, inconsistencies or errors in or between the original paper and its reference implementation. We re-implement the full model in the neural simulator NEST in conjunction with the NESTML modeling language and confirm the main findings of the original work.