Hosted by the Wellcome Neural Dynamics PhD Programme
Extensive research has revealed that the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex maintain a rich representation of space through the coordinated activity of place cells, grid cells, and other spatial cell types. Frequently described as a ‘cognitive map’ or a ‘hippocampal map’, these maps are thought to support episodic memory through their instantiation and retrieval. Though often a useful and intuitive metaphor, a map typically evokes a static representation of the external world. However, the world itself as well as our experience of it are intrinsically dynamic. Here I will present three projects where we address how hippocampal and entorhinal representations adapt to, incorporate, and overcome these dynamics. In the first project, I will describe how boundaries dynamically anchor entorhinal grid cells and human spatial memory alike when the shape of a familiar environment is changed. In the second project, I will describe how the hippocampus maintains a representation of the recent past even in the absence of disambiguating sensory and explicit task demands, a representation which causally depends on intrinsic hippocampal circuitry. In the third project, I will describe how the hippocampus preserves a stable representation of context despite ongoing representational changes across a timescale of weeks. Together, these projects yield new insight into the dynamic and adaptive nature of our hippocampal and entorhinal representations and set the stage for exciting future work building on these techniques and paradigms.
- BIOMED BLDG C44 and online: https://bristol-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/92144801092?pwd=YVNKeGFFRW1kb09iQnU0MkRIRzV5UT09
- Meeting ID: 921 4480 1092
- Passcode: 225286
Alexandra will be joining us virtually from Canada, hence the slightly later start at 2pm. We are continuing with the hybrid format so will be gathering in C44 Biomed to watch Alexandra’s talk, please do join us if you can and stick around for refreshments afterwards.