We propose a neural network model to explore how humans can learn and accurately retrieve temporal sequences, such as melodies, movies, or other dynamic content. We identify target memories by their neural oscillatory signatures, as shown in recent human episodic memory paradigms. Our model comprises three plausible components for the binding of temporal content, where each component imposes unique limitations on the encoding and representation of that content. A cortical component actively represents sequences through the disruption of an intrinsically generated alpha rhythm, where a desynchronisation marks information-rich operations as the literature predicts. A binding component converts each event into a discrete index, enabling repetitions through a sparse encoding of events. A timing component – consisting of an oscillatory “ticking clock” made up of hierarchical synfire chains – discretely indexes a moment in time. By encoding the absolute timing between discretised events, we show how one can use cortical desynchronisations to dynamically detect unique temporal signatures as they are reactivated in the brain. We validate this model by simulating a series of events where sequences are uniquely identifiable by analysing phasic information, as several recent EEG/MEG studies have shown. As such, we show how one can encode and retrieve complete episodic memories where the quality of such memories is modulated by the following: alpha gate keepers to content representation; binding limitations that induce a blink in temporal perception; and nested oscillations that provide preferential learning phases in order to temporally sequence events.

我们提出了一个神经网络模型来探索人类如何学习和准确检索时间序列，例如旋律、电影或其他动态内容。我们通过神经振荡特征识别目标记忆，如最近的人类情景记忆范例所示。我们的模型包含三个用于绑定时间内容的合理组件，其中每个组件对该内容的编码和表示施加了独特的限制。皮质组件通过破坏内在产生的 alpha 节律来主动表示序列，其中去同步标志着文献预测的信息丰富的操作。绑定组件将每个事件转换为离散索引，通过事件的稀疏编码实现重复。一个计时组件——由一个由分层同步链组成的振荡“滴答时钟”组成——离散地索引一个时刻。通过对离散事件之间的绝对时间进行编码，我们展示了如何使用皮质去同步来动态检测独特的时间特征，因为它们在大脑中被重新激活。正如最近的几项 EEG/MEG 研究所示，我们通过模拟一系列事件来验证该模型，其中通过分析相位信息可以唯一识别序列。因此，我们展示了如何编码和检索完整的情节记忆，其中此类记忆的质量受以下因素调节： alpha 守门员到内容表示；导致时间感知眨眼的约束性限制；