Temporal Flexibility in Associative Memory: Insights From Synaptic Tagging and Capture

Associative synaptic plasticity provides a mechanism for linking events that occur at different times, with synaptic tagging and capture (STC) playing a central role in this process. While the molecular underpinnings of STC have been well characterized, particularly in ex vivo hippocampal slice preparations, less attention has been given to the temporal boundaries within which associative plasticity can effectively occur. Recent findings by Chong et al. (2025) suggest a surprisingly extended temporal window for STC in hippocampal CA1 neurons ex vivo. This contrasts with behavioural tagging studies in vivo, which consistently report a narrower time window for effective memory association. Here, we consider possible factors contributing to this discrepancy, including the role of neuromodulation as a key homeostatic regulator of temporal flexibility. We conclude by highlighting the importance of reconciling ex vivo and in vivo findings, using the work by Chong et al. (2025) as a model to guide future investigations into the temporal dynamics of associative memory formation.