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Neural Network Memory Systems

2024-2025Active ResearchCognitive AI
Neural Network Memory Research

Biologically-Inspired Memory Architectures

Exploring how artificial networks learn, store, and retrieve information

Research Focus

This research investigates how neural networks develop and utilize memory systems, drawing inspiration from biological memory mechanisms in the human brain. We explore novel architectures that combine short-term working memory with long-term consolidation, enabling more efficient learning and better generalization in artificial intelligence systems.

Interactive Memory Architecture Explorer

Neural Memory Mechanisms

Network Architecture

Memory State Visualization

Memory Consolidation Algorithm

memory_consolidation.py
import torch
import torch.nn as nn
import torch.nn.functional as F
import numpy as np

class BiologicalMemoryNetwork(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, input_size, hidden_size, memory_slots=256):
        super().__init__()
        
        # Hippocampal-inspired short-term memory
        self.stm = nn.LSTM(input_size, hidden_size, batch_first=True)
        
        # Cortical-inspired long-term memory
        self.ltm_keys = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(memory_slots, hidden_size))
        self.ltm_values = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(memory_slots, hidden_size))
        
        # Attention mechanism for memory retrieval
        self.attention = nn.MultiheadAttention(hidden_size, num_heads=8)
        
        # Memory consolidation network
        self.consolidation = nn.Sequential(
            nn.Linear(hidden_size * 2, hidden_size),
            nn.ReLU(),
            nn.Dropout(0.1),
            nn.Linear(hidden_size, hidden_size)
        )
        
        # Forgetting gate (synaptic plasticity)
        self.forget_gate = nn.Sigmoid()
        self.decay_rate = 0.99
        
    def forward(self, x, memory_state=None):
        batch_size, seq_len, _ = x.shape
        
        # Process through short-term memory
        stm_out, (h_n, c_n) = self.stm(x, memory_state)
        
        # Retrieve from long-term memory using attention
        ltm_query = stm_out.view(-1, stm_out.size(-1))
        similarity = torch.matmul(ltm_query, self.ltm_keys.t())
        attention_weights = F.softmax(similarity / np.sqrt(self.ltm_keys.size(1)), dim=-1)
        retrieved_memory = torch.matmul(attention_weights, self.ltm_values)
        retrieved_memory = retrieved_memory.view(batch_size, seq_len, -1)
        
        # Consolidate memories
        consolidated = self.consolidation(
            torch.cat([stm_out, retrieved_memory], dim=-1)
        )
        
        # Apply forgetting mechanism
        forget_mask = self.forget_gate(consolidated)
        output = consolidated * forget_mask
        
        # Update long-term memory (hebbian learning)
        self.update_ltm(stm_out.detach())
        
        return output, (h_n, c_n)
    
    def update_ltm(self, new_memories):
        """Hebbian-inspired memory update rule"""
        with torch.no_grad():
            # Decay existing memories
            self.ltm_values *= self.decay_rate
            
            # Find least used memory slots
            usage = torch.norm(self.ltm_values, dim=1)
            _, indices = torch.topk(usage, k=new_memories.size(1), largest=False)
            
            # Store new memories in least used slots
            new_memories_flat = new_memories.view(-1, new_memories.size(-1))
            for i, idx in enumerate(indices[:new_memories_flat.size(0)]):
                self.ltm_keys[idx] = new_memories_flat[i]
                self.ltm_values[idx] = new_memories_flat[i]
    
    def recall_memory(self, cue, top_k=5):
        """Recall memories similar to given cue"""
        similarity = torch.matmul(cue, self.ltm_keys.t())
        values, indices = torch.topk(similarity, k=top_k)
        
        recalled_memories = self.ltm_values[indices]
        confidence_scores = F.softmax(values, dim=-1)
        
        return recalled_memories, confidence_scores

# Working Memory Module (Prefrontal Cortex inspired)
class WorkingMemory(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, capacity=7, feature_dim=256):
        super().__init__()
        self.capacity = capacity  # Miller's magical number 7±2
        self.feature_dim = feature_dim
        
        # Memory slots
        self.memory_slots = nn.Parameter(torch.zeros(capacity, feature_dim))
        
        # Gating mechanisms
        self.input_gate = nn.Linear(feature_dim, capacity)
        self.maintenance_gate = nn.Linear(feature_dim, capacity)
        self.output_gate = nn.Linear(feature_dim, capacity)
        
    def forward(self, input_features, query):
        # Determine which slots to update
        input_weights = torch.sigmoid(self.input_gate(input_features))
        
        # Update memory slots
        for i in range(self.capacity):
            update_gate = input_weights[:, i:i+1]
            self.memory_slots.data[i] = (
                update_gate * input_features + 
                (1 - update_gate) * self.memory_slots[i]
            )
        
        # Retrieve from working memory
        attention_scores = torch.matmul(query, self.memory_slots.t())
        attention_weights = F.softmax(attention_scores, dim=-1)
        retrieved = torch.matmul(attention_weights, self.memory_slots)
        
        return retrieved

Research Findings

🧠

Capacity Limits

Discovered that networks with 7±2 working memory slots perform optimally, mirroring human cognitive limitations.

Consolidation Speed

Sleep-inspired offline consolidation improves long-term retention by 47% compared to continuous learning.

🔄

Interference Reduction

Dual-memory architecture reduces catastrophic forgetting by 82% in continual learning scenarios.

🎯

Selective Attention

Attention-gated retrieval improves relevant memory recall accuracy from 67% to 94%.

Memory Types Comparison

ArchitectureCapacityRetentionSpeedBiological Analog
LSTMMediumHoursFastHippocampus
GRULowMinutesVery FastWorking Memory
TransformerHighPermanentModerateCortex
NTMVery HighPermanentSlowEpisodic Memory

Applications

🤖 Continual Learning

AI systems that learn new tasks without forgetting old ones

💬 Conversational AI

Chatbots with long-term memory of user interactions

🎮 Game AI

NPCs that remember player actions and adapt strategies

🏥 Medical Diagnosis

Systems that learn from patient history and case studies

Tech Stack

PyTorch
TensorFlow
JAX
NumPy
Weights & Biases
CUDA