Neural Maturation Stabilizes Representations and Supports Understanding of Complex Concepts

Remarkable advances in AI do not necessarily rely on modern molecular biology. Here, I highlight the importance of neural maturation in neural network information processing. In both supervised and reinforcement learning, immature synaptic transmission can achieve high fidelity learning but suffers catastrophic failure beyond specific thresholds. I identified genes involved in neuronal maturation and found that the candidate gene KCNH7 is upregulated during mouse brain development. Incorporating KCNH7 channel properties into a simulated neural model raised the excitation threshold and yielded a more linear response. These modifications enhanced the stability of memory recall and facilitated the comprehension of complex patterns, underscoring critical role of neural maturation in enabling advanced recognition capabilities.