Multi-modular Associative Memory

Motivated by the findings of modular structure in the association cortex, we study a multi-modular model of associative memory that can successfully store memory patterns with different levels of activity. Weshow that the segregation of synaptic conductances into intra-modular linear and inter-modular nonlinear ones considerably enhances the network's memory retrieval performance. Compared with the conventional, single-module associative memory network, the multi-modular network has two main advantages: It is less susceptible todamage to columnar input, and its response is consistent with the cognitive data pertaining to category specific impairment. 1 Introduction Cortical modules were observed in the somatosensory and visual cortices a few decades ago. These modules differ in their structure and functioning but are likely to be an elementary unit of processing in the mammalian cortex. Within each module the neurons are interconnected.