Space and Time: The Hippocampus as a Sequence Generator. Issue 10 (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buzsáki, György; Tingley, David
• Is Part Of: Trends in cognitive sciences. Volume 22:Issue 10(2018)
• Page Start: 853
• Page End: 869
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: place cells -- time cells -- theta oscillation -- phase coding -- lateral septum; Cognitive science -- Periodicals; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.07.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-6613

Abstract

Abstract : Neural computations are often compared to instrument-measured distance or duration, and such relationships are interpreted by a human observer. However, neural circuits do not depend on human-made instruments but perform computations relative to an internally defined rate-of-change. While neuronal correlations with external measures, such as distance or duration, can be observed in spike rates or other measures of neuronal activity, what matters for the brain is how such activity patterns are utilized by downstream neural observers. We suggest that hippocampal operations can be described by the sequential activity of neuronal assemblies and their internally defined rate of change without resorting to the concept of space or time. Highlights: We propose that the hippocampus performs a general but singular algorithm: producing sequential content-free structure to access and organize sensory experiences distributed across cortical modules. Neural 'representations' can be referenced to many frames, and direct comparisons across frames of reference can be used when trying to identify underlying neural computations. Neural dynamics and transformations can be described without resorting to the concepts of space and time. Future research should focus on transformation rules between structures, rather than on tuning. A neuronal observer-centered approach that compares two internal variables may be more fruitful than correlating an external signal with neuronal patterns.