Tension shapes memory: Computational insights into neural plasticity

Ki Yun LeeM Taher A Saif^*

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, United States

Mechanical forces have recently emerged as critical modulators of neural communication, yet their role in high-level cognitive functions remains poorly understood. Here, we present a biologically inspired spiking neural network model that integrates mechanical tension, vesicle dynamics, and spike-timing-dependent plasticity to examine how tension influences learning, memory, and cognitive operations such as pattern completion, projection, and association. We find that increased tension enhances synaptic efficiency by accelerating vesicle clustering and recovery, resulting in a 67% improvement in memory recall speed and a 17% increase in inter-regional synchrony during projection relative to relaxed states. Conversely, a 20% reduction in tension leads to a 31% decline in memory association performance, highlighting the tension-sensitive accessibility of stored information. The model further reveals that an appropriate balance of inhibition is essential for these tension-driven effects: networks with 20% inhibitory neurons achieve optimal spatial precision in memory encoding and recall, whereas insufficient inhibition allows tension-amplified excitation to spread uncontrollably and degrade recall fidelity. Together, these in silico findings position mechanical tension as a functional neuromodulator and suggest new directions for neuromorphic design and energy-efficient, living computing platforms.