# Tripartite Synapse — Pseudocode v11 > Companion: `tripartite_synapse_v11_biology.md` explains the biology of every variable. > Changes from v10: each component now carries its own PARAMETERS and EXTERNAL INTERFACE > blocks; behaviors are organized into functional groups within each context; pool-filling > primitives return their increment (applied by the caller); the astrocyte no longer writes > PRE's drive (the spillover brake is PRE reading its own cleft). --- ## Functional groups (the uniform template, applied within each context) ``` RECEIVE take in resources + signals that arrived from outside BEHAVE the component's defining action EMIT send out — signals (messages) and resources (shipments) across the boundary SENSE deposit the fast trace that records the behavior RECOVER refill own private pools consumed by behaving EVALUATE judge the behavior — strength (needs dopamine) + endurance (interrupted success) DECAY let traces recede, closing their windows ``` Groups sit inside the DAY contexts (Option A): execution contexts (AP/bAP/CONTINUOUS) carry BEHAVE/EMIT/SENSE/endurance-EVALUATE; replenishment contexts (NOT_AP/NOT_bAP) carry RECEIVE/RECOVER/strength-EVALUATE/DECAY. Not every component uses every group. --- ## Conventions ``` SCOPE = {DAY, NIGHT} CONTEXT = {AP, NOT_AP, bAP, NOT_bAP, CONTINUOUS} DAY budget · fast_trace · possible_tag · endurance_need BRIDGE tag (POST: CANDIDATE→STABLE) NIGHT energy (not recoverable) · material (recoverable) · structure · budget_ceiling LOCALITY only local state + arrived signals; no component reads another's internal state. CLEFT MESSAGE CHANNELS (each component writes, others read) glutamate PRE → POST, ASTRO forward transmitter; ASTRO clears it astro_Dserine ASTRO → POST NMDA co-agonist gate retro_NO POST → PRE (+) "release reached a responsive target" retro_eCB POST → PRE (−) DSE: "over-driven, release less" SHIPMENT CHANNELS (source writes, target reads in its RECEIVE) soma_ship_dend SOMA→DEND soma_ship_axon SOMA→AXON dend_ship_post DEND→POST axon_ship_pre AXON→PRE ``` --- ## Primitives (return the increment; caller applies it) ``` sat(x, K) = x / (K + x) fill(pool, ceiling, rate, cost, budget) -> amount: // PRIVATE reserve amount = min(rate, ceiling - pool)·Δt budget -= amount·cost // intrinsic refill cost return amount refill(c from supply S) -> amount: // CONTESTED supply demand = c.budget_ceiling - c.budget factor = min(1, S / (Σ demand over components on S + ε)) S -= demand·factor // consumes shared supply return demand·factor ship(from_budget, demand_sig, frac, cost) -> amount: // DIRECTED transfer amount = min(from_budget·frac, demand_sig) // demand_sig = propagated tag from_budget -= amount·(1 + cost) return amount // caller writes shipment channel ``` --- ## SHARED parameters (organism / physical / universal plasticity machinery) ``` // organism broadcasts (external; arrive as local levels) dopamine NE ACh // physical (external) glucose // vascular energy ceiling — root geometry // dendritic topology — bAP attenuation // universal plasticity gates (same mechanism in every component) elig dop_thr tag_thr tag_expiry // strength: eligibility → tag traj_thr endur_thr // endurance: interrupted-success → need // universal NIGHT decay_rate capacity_decay_rate recycle homeostatic_ceiling coherence_factor assembly_cost biogenesis_cost maint_cost // decay-time convention: each *= decay(τ) means relax toward 0 with time-constant τ ``` --- --- # DAY --- ## PRE ``` // PARAMETERS (pre) // K_release half-max Ca²⁺ for release release_cost gate to release // fusion_cost per unit NT_flux vatpase_cost per unit RRP refilled // spillover cleft level for autobrake brake autoreceptor factor // // EXTERNAL INTERFACE // EMIT glutamate → POST, ASTRO // RECEIVE astro_lactate[syn] ← ASTRO (primary fuel) ; axon_ship_pre ← AXON (fuel) // retro_NO, retro_eCB ← POST (backward messages) // pre_material ← AXON(NIGHT) ; pre_energy ← SOMA(NIGHT) // READ glutamate (own cleft, autobrake) ; dopamine (VTA, gates tag) // OWN pre_structure{slot_ceiling, VGCC_coupling, refill_ceiling} ; pre_budget_ceiling // EMERGENCY shockwave_lockdown ← ASTRO DAY | AP: // SENSE pre_fast_trace += spike_Ca(input_freq) // BEHAVE — release or fail if pre_budget < release_cost: suppress(NT_flux) // EVALUATE (endurance) — interrupted local success, confirmed by retro_NO if pre_fast_trace > traj_thr: pre_endurance_need += pre_fast_trace × (1 + retro_NO_local) exit drive = sat(pre_fast_trace, K_release) × (1 - retro_eCB_local) if RRP > 0: NT_flux = RRP × drive // EMIT glutamate += NT_flux·Δt RRP -= NT_flux·Δt; pre_budget -= NT_flux·fusion_cost if glutamate > spillover: drive *= brake // own-cleft autobrake DAY | NOT_AP: // RECEIVE retro_NO_local = retro_NO; retro_eCB_local = retro_eCB pre_budget += refill(pre from astro_lactate[syn] + axon_ship_pre) // RECOVER RRP += fill(RRP, pre_structure.slot_ceiling, pre_structure.refill_ceiling, vatpase_cost, pre_budget) // EVALUATE (strength) if pre_fast_trace > elig: pre_possible_tag += pre_fast_trace if dopamine > dop_thr and pre_possible_tag > tag_thr: pre_tag += dopamine × pre_possible_tag // DECAY pre_fast_trace *= decay(100ms); pre_possible_tag *= decay(s) pre_endurance_need *= decay(min); pre_tag *= decay(hr) dopamine *= decay(ms); retro_NO *= decay(s); retro_eCB *= decay(s) ``` --- ## POST ``` // PARAMETERS (post) // K_AMPA half-max glu for AMPA AMPA_Ca Ca fraction via AMPA // AMPA_cost NMDA_cost bAP_cost pka_cost traffic_cost req_cost // Mg_eject Vm to eject Mg block Dserine_thr NMDA co-agonist gate // Ca_STP fill-slots threshold Ca_TAG tagging threshold // eCB_thr Vm for endocannabinoid (DSE) drift baseline (STD relaxation) // NO_synth_cost eCB_synth_cost // // EXTERNAL INTERFACE // EMIT retro_NO (+), retro_eCB (−) → PRE // RECEIVE astro_lactate[syn] ← ASTRO ; dend_ship_post ← DEND // post_material ← DEND(NIGHT) ; post_energy ← SOMA(NIGHT) // READ glutamate ← PRE ; astro_Dserine ← ASTRO ; bAP (via dend_structure.bAP_fidelity) // dopamine (VTA, stabilizes tag) // OWN post_structure{slot_ceiling, spine_volume, reserve_ceiling} ; post_budget_ceiling // EMERGENCY shockwave_lockdown ← ASTRO DAY | NOT_bAP: // RECEIVE post_budget += refill(post from astro_lactate[syn] + dend_ship_post) // BEHAVE + SENSE — three Ca sources feed post_fast_trace a = sat(glutamate, K_AMPA) // SOURCE 1: AMPA AMPA_current = a × AMPA_surface; Vm += AMPA_current post_fast_trace += AMPA_Ca·AMPA_current; post_budget -= AMPA_cost if Vm > Mg_eject and astro_Dserine > Dserine_thr and glutamate > 0: // SOURCE 2: NMDA post_fast_trace += NMDA_Ca(glutamate)·rise_speed(); post_budget -= NMDA_cost // EMIT (+) retro_NO += NO_emit(post_fast_trace); post_budget -= NO_synth_cost // EMIT (−) if Vm > eCB_thr: retro_eCB += eCB_emit(Vm); post_budget -= eCB_synth_cost post_fast_trace *= decay(ms) // BEHAVE — STP fill slots (Ca-driven, private reserve); else STD drift (consequence) if post_fast_trace > Ca_STP: AMPA_surface = min(AMPA_surface + Ca_insert(post_fast_trace), post_structure.slot_ceiling) post_budget -= traffic_cost else: AMPA_surface = max(AMPA_surface - drift·Δt, baseline) // EVALUATE (endurance) — interrupted local success (own Ca climbing toward tag) if post_budget < req_cost and post_fast_trace > traj_thr and post_fast_trace_rising: post_endurance_need += post_fast_trace // EVALUATE (strength) — CANDIDATE then STABLE (dopamine) if post_fast_trace > Ca_TAG: post_possible_tag += post_fast_trace post_budget -= pka_cost if dopamine > dop_thr and post_possible_tag > tag_thr: post_tag += dopamine × post_possible_tag // DECAY post_possible_tag *= decay(min); post_endurance_need *= decay(min) post_tag *= decay(hr); dopamine *= decay(ms) DAY | bAP: // BEHAVE + SENSE — SOURCE 3: bAP amplifies an existing signal Vm += bAP_depol × dend_structure.bAP_fidelity; post_budget -= bAP_cost if post_possible_tag > Ca_TAG: post_fast_trace += bAP_Ca_boost() ``` --- ## DEND ``` // PARAMETERS (dend) // prop_cost branch_Ca_cost integrate_cost translate_cost // // EXTERNAL INTERFACE // EMIT bAP_local → POST ; branch_Vm → SOMA ; dend_ship_post → POST // RECEIVE astro_lactate[branch] ← ASTRO ; soma_ship_dend ← SOMA // dend_material, dend_energy ← SOMA(NIGHT) // READ SOMA.fired (bAP trigger) ; POST.Vm + spine spillover (to integrate) // dopamine ; ACh (commit-threshold context) // OWN dend_structure{bAP_fidelity(pos), translation_ceiling, transport_speed} ; dend_budget_ceiling DAY | bAP: // BEHAVE — propagate bAP (may fall short if depleted), integrate spines bAP_local, reached = propagate(SOMA.fired, dend_structure.bAP_fidelity, dend_budget, geometry) dend_budget -= prop_cost × reached // EVALUATE (endurance) — propagation cut short while branch strongly active (LOCAL) if reached < full and dend_fast_trace > traj_thr: dend_endurance_need += dend_fast_trace // SENSE dend_fast_trace += bAP_Ca(bAP_local) + spine_spillover(); dend_budget -= branch_Ca_cost // EMIT — propagated bAP to spines; integrated voltage to soma branch_Vm = integrate(POST.Vm, spines); dend_budget -= integrate_cost DAY | NOT_bAP: // RECEIVE dend_budget += refill(dend from astro_lactate[branch] + soma_ship_dend) // EMIT — ship budget downstream to spines (demand = post tag) dend_ship_post = ship(dend_budget, post_demand, post_ship_frac, ship_cost) // EVALUATE (strength) if dend_fast_trace > elig: dend_possible_tag += dend_fast_trace if dopamine > dop_thr and dend_possible_tag > tag_thr: dend_tag += dopamine × dend_possible_tag // BEHAVE — local translation if tagged (fills dend capacity faster) if dend_tag > tag_expiry and dend_budget > translate_cost: dend_budget -= translate_cost commit_threshold *= 1/(1 + ACh·gain) // DECAY dend_fast_trace *= decay(300ms); dend_possible_tag *= decay(s) dend_endurance_need *= decay(min); dend_tag *= decay(hr) ``` --- ## SOMA ``` // PARAMETERS (soma) // ap_cost nuclear_cost creb_cost mito_output (self-fuel rate) // inactivation ap_amp ap_contrib base_recovery // τ_Na τ_adapt τ_nuclear τ_align // // EXTERNAL INTERFACE // EMIT fired → AXON (propagate) + DEND (bAP) ; soma_ship_dend → DEND ; soma_ship_axon → AXON // RECEIVE self (mitochondria, ROOT) ; branch_Vm ← DEND // READ dopamine ; NE ; ACh // OWN soma_structure{baseline_threshold, AP_reliability, synthesis_ceiling} ; soma_budget_ceiling DAY | AP: threshold = soma_structure.baseline_threshold × (1 + soma_adaptation) × neuromod(NE, ACh) can_fire = soma_Na_inactivation < inactivation // BEHAVE — fire if able if branch_Vm > threshold and can_fire: if soma_budget < ap_cost: // EVALUATE (endurance) — fuel cut a firing train approaching CREB (LOCAL) if soma_fast_trace > traj_thr and soma_fast_trace_rising: soma_endurance_need += soma_fast_trace exit fired = True; soma_budget -= ap_cost // EMIT: fired → AXON, DEND // SENSE — three traces from one AP soma_Na_inactivation += ap_amp // → refractory (emergent) soma_adaptation += ap_contrib // → threshold rise soma_fast_trace += nuclear_Ca(); soma_budget -= nuclear_cost // EVALUATE (strength) if soma_fast_trace > elig: soma_possible_tag += soma_fast_trace if dopamine > dop_thr and soma_possible_tag > tag_thr: soma_tag += dopamine × soma_possible_tag soma_budget -= creb_cost DAY | NOT_AP: // BEHAVE — bottom-up refractory alignment (suprathreshold input during refractory) if branch_Vm > threshold and soma_Na_inactivation > inactivation: soma_refractory_alignment += (branch_Vm - threshold) × soma_Na_inactivation // RECOVER — recovery rate sped by alignment trace recovery = base_recovery × (1 + soma_refractory_alignment) soma_Na_inactivation *= decay(τ_Na / recovery) // RECEIVE — self-replenish (private root) + integrate input soma_budget += fill(soma_budget, soma_budget_ceiling, mito_output, 0, soma_budget) branch_Vm = integrate(DEND.branch_Vm, branches) // EMIT — ship downstream (demand = propagated tags) soma_ship_dend = ship(soma_budget, dend_demand, dend_ship_frac, ship_cost) soma_ship_axon = ship(soma_budget, axon_demand, axon_ship_frac, ship_cost) // DECAY soma_adaptation *= decay(τ_adapt); soma_fast_trace *= decay(τ_nuclear) soma_refractory_alignment *= decay(τ_align) // self-limiting soma_possible_tag *= decay(s); soma_endurance_need *= decay(min) soma_tag *= decay(hr); dopamine *= decay(ms) ``` --- ## AXON ``` // PARAMETERS (axon) // prop_cost budget_factor (depleted-propagation penalty) // // EXTERNAL INTERFACE // EMIT APs_delivered → PRE (propagation) ; axon_ship_pre → PRE // RECEIVE soma_ship_axon ← SOMA ; astro_lactate[shaft] ← ASTRO // axon_material, axon_energy ← SOMA(NIGHT) // READ SOMA.fired ; dopamine // OWN axon_structure{propagation, transport_ceiling, mito_density} ; axon_budget_ceiling DAY | AP: reliability = axon_structure.propagation × (1 - fail(axon_fast_trace)) // BEHAVE — propagate (degraded if depleted) if axon_budget < prop_cost: reliability *= budget_factor // EVALUATE (endurance) — propagating a strong train when fuel failed (LOCAL) if axon_fast_trace > traj_thr: axon_endurance_need += axon_fast_trace delivered = fired × reliability; axon_budget -= prop_cost × delivered // EMIT — delivered APs reach boutons // SENSE axon_fast_trace += delivered; axon_fast_trace *= decay(s) DAY | NOT_AP: // RECEIVE axon_budget += refill(axon from soma_ship_axon + astro_lactate[shaft]) // EMIT — ship budget to boutons (demand = pre tag) axon_ship_pre = ship(axon_budget, pre_demand, pre_ship_frac, ship_cost) // EVALUATE (strength) if axon_fast_trace > elig: axon_possible_tag += axon_fast_trace if dopamine > dop_thr and axon_possible_tag > tag_thr: axon_tag += dopamine × axon_possible_tag // DECAY axon_fast_trace *= decay(s); axon_possible_tag *= decay(s) axon_endurance_need *= decay(min); axon_tag *= decay(hr) ``` --- ## ASTRO ``` // PARAMETERS (astro) // K_Dserine half-max Ca for D-serine Ds_max Ds_frac Ds_cost // EAAT_cost per unit glutamate cleared lactate_cost per unit exported // spillover overflow threshold overload lockdown threshold // // EXTERNAL INTERFACE // EMIT astro_lactate[i] → pre/post/dend budgets ; astro_Dserine[i] → POST (gate) // RECEIVE glucose (ROOT) ; astro_material, astro_energy ← cell body (NIGHT) // READ glutamate ← PRE (clearance + spillover) ; dopamine // OWN astro_structure{perisynaptic_distance⁻¹, EAAT, Dserine_tonic, ECM} ; astro_budget_ceiling // EMERGENCY emits shockwave_lockdown on overload DAY | CONTINUOUS: // per astrosynapse i // RECEIVE — root production, capped by glucose astro_central_budget += glycolysis(glucose)·Δt // EMIT — demand-weighted lactate allocation across territory for each i: demand[i] = clearance_load[i] × astro_structure[i].delivery_eff factor = min(1, astro_central_budget / (Σ demand·lactate_cost + ε)) for each i: astro_lactate[i] = demand[i] × factor; astro_central_budget -= astro_lactate[i]·lactate_cost // BEHAVE — clear glutamate; supply tonic D-serine glutamate[i] -= astro_structure[i].EAAT × glutamate[i]·Δt; astro_central_budget -= clearance·EAAT_cost astro_Dserine[i] += astro_structure[i].Dserine_tonic·Δt if glutamate[i] > spillover: // SENSE astro_fast_trace[i] += mGluR_Ca(); astro_fast_trace[i] *= decay(s) // BEHAVE + EMIT — D-serine pulse (demand-driven, budget-limited) want = sat(astro_fast_trace[i], K_Dserine) × Ds_max got = min(want, astro_central_budget × Ds_frac) astro_Dserine[i] += got; astro_central_budget -= got·Ds_cost // EVALUATE (endurance) — ran out of synthesis under high own demand (LOCAL) if got < want and astro_fast_trace[i] > traj_thr: astro_endurance_need[i] += (want - got) // EVALUATE (strength) if astro_fast_trace[i] > elig: astro_possible_tag[i] += astro_fast_trace[i] if dopamine > dop_thr and astro_possible_tag[i] > tag_thr: astro_tag[i] += dopamine × astro_possible_tag[i] // DECAY astro_possible_tag[i] *= decay(s); astro_endurance_need[i] *= decay(min) astro_tag[i] *= decay(hr) // EMERGENCY if astro_fast_trace[i] > overload: emit(shockwave_lockdown) ``` --- ## Special — Shockwave Lockdown ``` DAY or NIGHT | OVERLOAD: Vm = HYPERPOLARIZED; AMPA_surface = mass_internalize() → post reserve axon_fast_trace += overdrive(); astro_central_budget -= emergency_cost ``` --- --- # NIGHT System-wide consolidation (not a per-component DAY cycle). Build ceilings from DAY evidence. ``` NIGHT | 1 REPLENISH & DISTRIBUTE // energy economy: astrocyte central → astrosynapses (astro_tag-weighted) astro_central_{budget,energy,material} += overnight_*(glucose, …)·Δt for each i with astro_tag[i] > tag_expiry: w = astro_tag[i]/Σastro_tag astro_energy[i] += astro_central_energy·w; astro_material[i] += astro_central_material·w // material economy: soma → branch/axon → spine/bouton soma_budget += overnight_mito()·Δt; soma_energy += overnight_soma_energy()·Δt soma_material += CREB_synth(soma_tag)·Δt // bottleneck dend_material += soma_material·f_dend; axon_material += soma_material·f_axon; soma_material -= … post_material += dend_material·f_spine; pre_material += axon_material·f_bouton {pre,post,dend,axon}_energy += soma_energy·f[·] {pre,post,dend,axon}_budget += astro_lactate_reserve·f[·]·Δt NIGHT | 2 STRENGTH COMMITS (raise structure) coherence = (pre_tag, post_tag, astro_tag all > tag_expiry) ? coherence_factor : 1 for each c with c_tag > tag_expiry: Δ = min(slot_cost, c_material, c_energy·f) c_structure += Δ × (coherence if c in {pre,post,astro} else 1) c_material -= Δ; c_energy -= Δ·assembly_cost if Δ < slot_cost: queue(c_strength_deficit → next NIGHT) NIGHT | 2b ENDURANCE COMMITS (raise budget_ceiling) — no dopamine; competes with step 2 for each c with c_endurance_need > endur_thr: Δ = min(cap_cost, c_material·f_cap, c_energy·f_cap) c_budget_ceiling += Δ; c_material -= Δ; c_energy -= Δ·biogenesis_cost if Δ < cap_cost: queue(c_endurance_deficit → next NIGHT) NIGHT | 3 PASSIVE DECAY (both ceilings, by neglect) maint = (total_material - consumed) × maint_frac / synapse_count for each synapse: {pre,post,dend,astro}_structure -= decay_rate·Δt {pre,post,dend,astro}_budget_ceiling -= capacity_decay_rate·Δt if maint ≥ maint_cost: structure += full_maint; budget_ceiling += full_cap_maint else: structure += maint·frac; budget_ceiling += maint·cap_frac for each synapse with net_change < 0: // material recovered, energy not {pre,post,astro}_material += |net_change|·recycle·frac NIGHT | 4 HOMEOSTATIC SCALING if soma_tag > homeostatic_ceiling: s = homeostatic_ceiling / soma_tag for each synapse: post_structure.slot_ceiling *= s; pre_structure.slot_ceiling *= s soma_material += Σ reduction·recycle NIGHT | 5 CLEAR TRACES all fast_trace, possible_tag, endurance_need = 0 soma_Na_inactivation = soma_adaptation = soma_refractory_alignment = 0 for each tag: if tag < tag_expiry: tag = 0 // else carry forward // structure and budget_ceiling PERSIST ``` --- ## One-view summary ``` DAY per context, per component: RECEIVE → BEHAVE/EMIT/SENSE → RECOVER → EVALUATE → DECAY behavior runs within structure (strength) and budget_ceiling (endurance), both filled by competition (refill = contested, fill = private, ship = directed) fast_trace + dopamine coincidence → tag (strength evidence) depletion + interrupted LOCAL success → endurance_need (endurance evidence) NIGHT tag → structure ; endurance_need → budget_ceiling ; both draw one pool (compete) unmaintained ceilings decay → freed material funds the rest LOCAL every evaluation uses only own state + arrived signals; coupling is via channels. ```