Associative Memory Cells are Recruited to Encode Triple Sensory Signals via Synapse Formation

Associative learning is a common form of information acquisition, and associative memory is essential for logical reasoning and associative thinking. In addition to memory cells for two associated signals, here we report the recruitment of associative memory cells that encode triple sensory signals. Paired mouse whisker, olfaction and tail stimulations lead to odorant-induced and tail-induced whisker motions. In the mice of showing cross-modal reflexes, barrel cortical neurons and astrocytes become to encode odor and tail signals alongside whisker signal.