A method for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, includes changing a gain of a synapse based on presynaptic spike activity without regard to postsynaptic spike activity. The method also includes calculating the gain based on a continuously updated synaptic state variable associated with the short term plasticity.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, comprising: changing a gain of a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic activity without regard to postsynaptic activity. 2. The method of claim 1, in which the gain is based at least in part on a timing of the presynaptic spike activity. 3. The method of claim 2, in which the gain is based at least in part on a function of a time since a most recent presynaptic spike. 4. The method of claim 3, in which the function is characterized as having an exponential decay. 5. The method of claim 3, in which the function is characterized as a non-linear function of an exponential decay to provide a minimum threshold for synaptic transmission. 6. The method of claim 3, in which the function allows the gain to increase and/or decrease. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating the gain based at least in part on a continuously updated synaptic state variable associated with the short term plasticity. 8. The method of claim 1, in which the synapse includes a gain variable associated with the short term plasticity, the gain variable providing a state for the synapse. 9. The method of claim 1, in which a neuron model includes a gain variable associated with the short term plasticity, the gain variable providing a state for the synapse. 10. A method for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, comprising: storing state information in a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic activity; and retrieving the state information as postsynaptic activity. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting the state information based at least in part on the presynaptic activity. 12. The method of claim 11, in which the presynaptic activity comprises a maintenance signal, and the method further comprising: periodically receiving maintenance signals, at the synapse, to maintain a specific gain of the synapse; and receiving additional maintenance signal, at the synapse, to increase the gain of the synapse. 13. The method of claim 11, in which the presynaptic activity comprises a maintenance signal, and the method further comprising periodically receiving fewer maintenance signals, at the synapse, to decrease a specific gain of the synapse. 14. The method of claim 10, in which a gain of the postsynaptic activity comprises information corresponding to current state information. 15. An apparatus for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, the apparatus comprising: a memory unit; and at least one processer coupled to the memory unit; the at least one processor being configured: to change a gain of a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic spike activity without regard to postsynaptic spike activity. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the gain is based at least in part on a timing of the presynaptic spike activity. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the gain is based at least in part on a function of a time since a most recent presynaptic spike. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the function is characterized as having an exponential decay. 19. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the function is characterized as a non-linear function of an exponential decay to provide a minimum threshold for synaptic transmission. 20. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the function allows the gain to increase and/or decrease. 21. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the at least one processer is further configured to calculate the gain based at least in part on a continuously updated synaptic state variable associated with the short term plasticity. 22. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the synapse includes a gain variable associated with the short term plasticity, the gain variable providing a state for the synapse. 23. The apparatus of claim 15, in which a neuron model includes a gain variable associated with the short term plasticity, the gain variable providing a state for the synapse. 24. An apparatus for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, the apparatus comprising: a memory unit; and at least one processer coupled to the memory unit; the at least one processor being configured: to store state information in a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic activity; and to retrieve the state information as postsynaptic activity. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the at least one processor is further configured to adjust the state information based at least in part on the presynaptic activity. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, in which: the presynaptic activity comprises a maintenance signal, and the at least one processor is further configured: to periodically receive maintenance signals, at the synapse, to maintain a specific gain of the synapse; and to receive additional maintenance signal, at the synapse, to increase the gain of the synapse. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, in which: the presynaptic activity comprises a maintenance signal, and the at least one processor is further configured: to periodically receive maintenance signals, at the synapse, to maintain a specific gain of the synapse; and to periodically receive fewer maintenance signals, at the synapse, to decrease a specific gain of the synapse. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, in which a gain of the postsynaptic activity comprises information corresponding to current state information. 29. An apparatus for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, comprising: means for changing a gain of a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic spike activity without regard to postsynaptic spike activity; and means for calculating the gain based at least in part on a continuously updated synaptic state variable associated with the short term plasticity. 30. An apparatus for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, comprising: means for storing state information in a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic activity; and means for retrieving the state information as postsynaptic activity. 31. A computer program product for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: program code to change a gain of a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic spike activity without regard to postsynaptic spike activity. 32. A computer program product for creating and maintaining short term memory using short term plasticity, the computer program product comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: program code to store state information in a synapse based at least in part on presynaptic activity; and program code to retrieve the state information as postsynaptic activity.