Modular architecture confers robustness to damage and facilitates recovery in spiking neural networks modeling in vitro neurons

Impaired brain function is restored following injury through dynamic processes that involve synaptic plasticity. This restoration is supported by the brain’s inherent modular organization, which promotes functional separation and redundancy. However, it remains unclear how the modular structure interacts with synaptic plasticity, most notably in the form of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), to define the damage response and recovery efficiency. In this work, we numerically modeled the response and recovery to damage of a neuronal network in vitro bearing a modular structure. Consistent with the in vitro observations, the in silico numerical model effectively captured the decline and subsequent recovery of spontaneous activity following the injury. We revealed that the modular structure confers robustness to injury, minimizes the decrease in neuronal activity, and promotes recovery via STDP. Finally, using the reservoir computing framework, we show that information representation in the neuronal network improves with the recovery of synchronous activity. Our work provides an experimental-numerical platform for predicting recovery in damaged neuronal networks and may help developing effective models for brain injury.