GLIA, HIPPOCAMPAL LEARNING AND THE FORMATION OF NEOCORTICAL REPRESENTATIONS

A modified approach to hippocampal learning can be derived by extendin g consideration to glial cells and, in particular, astrocytes. Mechani sms are outlined that provide the hippocampus with a slow learning mec hanism based on astrocyte-astrocyte associations and a fast learning m echanism involving synaptic modifications in neurons. lnteraction betw een them provides a basis for tackling the shortcomings of current acc ounts of LTP. A mechanism is described for the consolidation of neocor tical representations as a result of the functioning of the hippocampa l system. Performance capabilities of the type of hippocampal system d escribed are being explored through development of a computational mod el.