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Ephaptic conduction molding memory engrams.

A Rabinovitch1, R Rabinovitch2, D Braunstein3

  • 1Physics Dept. Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel. avinoam@bgu.ac.il.

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|July 22, 2025
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The brain forms memories (engrams) through a dual process. Ephaptic signaling creates neural sub-engrams, which synaptic activity then refines into final memory structures.

Keywords:
Engram formationEphaptic dominationMemory encodingSub-engramsSynaptic molding

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • Memory formation involves neuronal ensembles called engrams.
  • The precise mechanism of engram formation during memory encoding remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a mechanistic mathematical model for engram formation during memory encoding.
  • To elucidate the roles of synaptic and ephaptic signaling in memory encoding.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a mechanistic mathematical model based on the cellular automata approach.
  • Differentiated between neurons operating via synaptic and ephaptic modes.

Main Results:

  • The model demonstrates that ephaptic signaling induces the formation of repeating neuronal collections (sub-engrams).
  • Synaptic influence refines these sub-engrams by pruning smaller ones and modifying larger ones to form final engram structures.
  • Confirmed dual participation of ephaptic and synaptic modes in memory encoding.

Conclusions:

  • Ephaptic and synaptic signaling work together in memory encoding.
  • The sequence of neural activity during memory encoding was revealed.
  • Speculated on brain mechanisms that could prioritize ephaptic signaling over synaptic signaling.