Neural Flip-Flops I: Short-Term Memory

Abstract

AbstractThe networks proposed here show how neurons can be connected to form flip-flops, the basic building blocks in sequential logic systems. Two novel neural flip-flops (NFFs) are composed of two and four neurons. Their operation depends only on minimal neuron capabilities of excitation and inhibition. The NFFs can generate known phenomena of short-term memory. Memory tests have shown that certain neurons fire continuously at a high frequency while information is held in short-term memory. These neurons exhibit seven characteristics associated with memory formation, retention, retrieval, termination, and errors. One of the neurons in each of the NFFs produces all of the characteristics. This neuron and a second neighboring neuron together predict eight unknown phenomena. These predictions can be tested by the same methods that led to the discovery of the first seven phenomena.