Cited by 1,301Memory and Neural MechanismsNeural dynamics and brain functionNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Internally Generated Cell Assembly Sequences in the Rat Hippocampus

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Pastalkova, Eva, Itskov, Vladimir, Amarasingham, Asohan, Buzsáki, György·2008·Science

Abstract

A long-standing conjecture in neuroscience is that aspects of cognition depend on the brain's ability to self-generate sequential neuronal activity. We found that reliably and continually changing cell assemblies in the rat hippocampus appeared not only during spatial navigation but also in the absence of changing environmental or body-derived inputs. During the delay period of a memory task, each moment in time was characterized by the activity of a particular assembly of neurons. Identical initial conditions triggered a similar assembly sequence, whereas different conditions gave rise to different sequences, thereby predicting behavioral choices, including errors. Such sequences were not formed in control (nonmemory) tasks. We hypothesize that neuronal representations, evolved for encoding distance in spatial navigation, also support episodic recall and the planning of action sequences.

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  • The sequential activation of place cells is thought to reflect specific episodic-like memories.

    “In fact, the sequential activation of place cells is thought to reflect specific episodic-like memories, occurring across similar time scales to the actual experience, all while the rat is concurrently engaged in other activities (and thus is not confusing imagined representations with current reality) [127].”

    From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [127]

  • Place cell activity in rats can encode information about the 'what' and 'when' of events.

    “evidence suggests that place cell activity in rats can also encode information about the ‘what’ (e.g. odours and their status, i.e. match/non-match [124–126]) and ‘when’ (i.e. elapsed time [127,128]) of events.”

    From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [127]

  • Recent remodelling of sharp-wave-ripple events suggests that neuronal replay often occurs at 'real-world' speeds that reflect actual experience.

    “recent remodelling of sharp-wave-ripple events suggests that this neuronal replay often occurs at ‘real-world’ speeds that reflect actual experience [185], as observed in other studies [127].”

    From Is episodic-like memory <i>like</i> episodic memory? (2024) · cites this paper as [127]

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  1. [11]Abeles M Corticotronics: Neural Circuits of the Cerebral Cortex 1991 Cambridge Univ. Press New York

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Authors
Pastalkova, E., Itskov, V., Amarasingham, A., & Buzsáki, G.
Affiliations
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
  • Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 197 University Avenue, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
Corresponding author
Itskov, Vladimir
Venue
Science
Published
2008-09-05
Volume
321
Issue
5894
Pages
1322-1327
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2172122397
Cited by
1,301
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 63 · 2025: 100 · 2024: 101 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 81 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 97 · 2018: 82 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 65 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 63 · 2012: 38
FWCI
21.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH054671, MH54671)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS034994, NS-34994)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
cell assemblies, hippocampus, spontaneous neuronal activity, spatial navigation, episodic memory, action planning, behavior prediction
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Choice Behavior, Cues, Hippocampus, Interneurons, Male, Memory, Models, Neurological, Motor Activity, Mental Recall, Pyramidal Cells, Maze Learning, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats

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