Modelling working memory in neuron-astrocyte network

Working memory is one of the most intriguing brain function phenomena that enables storage and recognition of several information patterns simultaneously in the form of coherent activations of specific brain circuitries. These patterns can be recalled and, if physiologically (cognitively) significant, further transferred to long term storages by cortical circuits. In the paper, we show how the working memory can be effectively organized by a multiscale network model composed of spiking neurons accompanied by an astrocytic network. The latter serves as the temporal storage of information patterns that can be manipulated (relearned, retrieved, transferred) during astrocytic calcium activation. In turn, the activation of the astrocyte network is possible when coherent firing occurs in corresponding sites of the neuronal layer. We study the role of interplay of the astrocyte-induced modulation of signal transmission in neural network and the Hebbian synaptic plasticity in the working memory organization. We show that modulation of synaptic communication caused by astrocytes does not exclude but rather complements Hebbian synaptic plasticity, and they can perfectly work in parallel. We believe this model is a significant step towards confirming the importance of non-neuron species (e.g. astrocytes) in the formation and sustainability of cognitive functions of the brain.