Spiking Neural Networks with Elephant Reinforcement

Abstract

We introduce a finite stochastic spiking-neuron network with Elephant-type memory, in which past firing activity modifies future excitability through a reinforcement-dependent threshold. For a bounded hard-threshold firing rate, we prove non-explosion of the finite system and obtain conditional exponential contraction in (1)-Wasserstein distance on a truncated potential space. We then formulate the corresponding replica mean-field dynamics and establish global existence, uniqueness in law, and non-explosion of the nonlinear process, together with a characterization of its invariant measures. Numerical experiments show that Elephant memory produces a (p)-dependent decline in firing activity, alters extinction behaviour, and yields finite-network dynamics closely matched by the replica mean-field approximation.