Content-addressable memory with spiking neurons

Time evolution and cooperative phenomena of networks with spiking model neurons are analyzed with emphasis on systems that could be used as content-addressable memories. Stored memories are represented by distributed patterns of neural activity where single cells either fire periodically or remain quiescent. Two distinct mechanisms to generate relaxation behavior toward such periodic solutions are investigated: delayed feedback and subthreshold oscillations, Using theoretical analysis and numerical simulations it is shown that in both cases model networks with integrate-and-fire neurons possess storage capabilities similar to those of conventional associative neural networks. [S1063-651X(99)09202-8].