Classical models of memory in psychology and neuroscience rely on similarity-based retrieval of stored patterns, where similarity is a function of retrieval cues and the stored patterns. While parsimonious, these models do not allow distinct representations for storage and retrieval, despite their distinct computational demands. Key-value memory systems, in contrast, distinguish representations used for storage (values) and those used for retrieval (keys). This allows key-value memory systems to optimize simultaneously for fidelity in storage and discriminability in retrieval. We review the computational foundations of key-value memory, its role in modern machine learning systems, related ideas from psychology and neuroscience, applications to a number of empirical puzzles, and possible biological implementations.
View on arXiv@article{gershman2025_2501.02950,
title={ Key-value memory in the brain },
author={ Samuel J. Gershman and Ila Fiete and Kazuki Irie },
journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.02950},
year={ 2025 }
}