Persistent activity as a memory mechanism

A mathematical neural model explored conditions under which patterns of activity could persist.

W. A. Little

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The contribution

Little studied when a neural network could sustain ordered states despite the changing activity of its individual units. He connected this behavior to an analogy with interacting spins and proposed a relationship between persistent states and short-term memory. The work provided a precursor to later treatments of memory through collective network dynamics.

What this does not establish

Persistent state here refers to activity in a mathematical neural model. It is not disk storage, an always-running software agent, or a complete biological explanation of memory.

Why this date?

The original article was published in 1974. Hopfield cites its author, year, journal, volume, and page range as reference 8.

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The original work

The Existence of Persistent States in the Brain

Authors: W. A. Little
Publication: Mathematical Biosciences, 19, 101-120
Source type: Journal article

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Cited By

Atlas entries whose reference lists cite this work or the publication version noted below.

Neural networks and physical systems with emergent collective computational abilities (1982)
Reference 8, printed page 2558. Check the reference list.

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Bibliography coverage: Reference section indexed. Open the source.

All twelve references were recovered from the publisher's complete reference section for its reprint of the 1974 paper. They were compared with the twelve publisher-deposited records for the original journal article. Reference 12 retains the original Ibid. and identifies its antecedent.

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References

1. C. M. Smith. The Brain. G. P. Putmanns, New York (1970). 2. A. L. Hodgkin and A. F. Huxley. Nature 144, 710 (1939). 3. L. I. Schiff. Quantum Mechanics, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill, New York (1968). 4. H. A. Kramers and G. H. Wannier. Physical Review 60, 252 (1941). 5. G. F. Newell and E. W. Montroll. Reviews of Modern Physics 25, 353 (1953). 6. K. Huang. Statistical Mechanics. Wiley, New York (1963). 7. J. Ashkin and W. E. Lamb, Jr. Physical Review 64, 159 (1943). 8. E. N. Lassettre and J. P. Howe. Journal of Chemical Physics 9, 747, 801 (1941). 9. T. D. Lee and C. N. Yang. Physical Review 87, 410 (1952). 10. M. R. Moldover and W. A. Little. Physical Review Letters 15, 54 (1965). 11. J. N. Franklin. Matrix Theory. Prentice-Hall, Engelwood Cliffs, New Jersey (1968). 12. Ibid., page 275. [Refers to Franklin, Matrix Theory, reference 11.]

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The contribution

What this does not establish

Why this date?

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