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The Spark of Memory: When a Neuron Whispers, I Remember

Poster Session A - Saturday, March 7, 2026, 3:00 – 5:00 pm PST, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballrooms

Declan Lustenberger¹, Kimberly Dobrinski², Aysel Khalil³; ¹The University of Tampa

How does the brain link one moment to the next? Although cortical neurons respond rapidly to stimulation, it remains unclear whether a single activation leaves a short-lived intracellular “residue” that later influences subsequent activity. This project investigates whether individual cortical neurons retain fast, measurable traces of recent stimulation, functional signatures that could represent one of the smallest building blocks of time-binding in neural systems. To examine this, we combine high-resolution calcium imaging with rapid early-gene expression analysis. Using GCaMP-based fluorescence and confocal microscopy, we track intracellular calcium dynamics following controlled stimulation and quantify whether a detectable after-signal lingers beyond the immediate response window. Additionally, we perform qRT-PCR on established immediate-early genes like c-fos and Arc to determine whether molecular markers of recent activation display similar short-interval changes. Together, these approaches allow us to analyze both fast biochemical events and early transcriptional events associated with neuronal activity. Our analysis compares responses across brief delay intervals in both isolated neurons and small network cultures. To organize these effects, we utilize two quantitative measures: a Residual Response Index capturing changes in calcium decay dynamics, and a Calcium Residue Index describing post-stimulus persistence. Evidence of even a subtle, rapid residue supports the hypothesis that cortical neurons possess intrinsic mechanisms for linking closely spaced events, providing insight into how the brain organizes continuous experience. This work contributes to broader efforts to understand neural plasticity, time-binding, and memory feedback.

Topic Area: EXECUTIVE PROCESSES: Working memory