Two-factor synaptic plasticity enables memory consolidation during neuronal burst firing

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ID: 317097
2026
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Abstract
Abstract How can brain circuits remain plastic enough to encode new information while still stabilizing synaptic changes that support long-term memory? Many circuits switch between tonic spiking, which encodes external inputs, and burst firing, which is generated collectively; yet how these state changes interact with synaptic plasticity to support consolidation remains unclear. Here, we ask whether burst epochs can provide a minimal, mechanistically interpretable route to stabilizing memories encoded during tonic firing. We introduce a two-factor synaptic plasticity rule in a conductance-based spiking network that switches robustly between tonic and burst regimes. The effective synaptic strength is expressed as the product of two factors: a primary, flexible factor updated by a Hebbian mechanism, and a secondary factor that captures stabilizing processes. The secondary factor is adjusted according to the rate of change of the primary factor. In a pattern recognition case study, the network encodes new inputs during tonic firing and undergoes burst epochs. This two-factor rule stabilizes previously learned patterns, integrates information across samples to support generalization, and improves robustness to noise. Ablation experiments show that these outcomes require a synergy between neural bursting activity and the two-factor plasticity rule: blocking secondary plasticity prevents stable retention, replacing bursts with quiescence leads to fading memories, and replacing bursts with additional tonic firing causes interference and noise sensitivity. Finally, a signal-to-noise ratio analysis across tonic–burst cycles identifies parameter regimes in which bursts either sharpen or weaken synaptic representations, consistent with consolidation or pruning, respectively.
Reference Key
openalex_W7164503266 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Kathleen Jacquerie, Danil Tyulmankov, Pierre Sacré, Guillaume Drion
Journal PNAS nexus
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag213
URL
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