Minute-scale oscillatory sequences in medial entorhinal cortex. (10.1038/s41586-023-06864-1 [doi])

These scientists wanted to understand how the brain helps us remember where we are and what we have experienced. They focused on a specific part of the brain called the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), which is important for navigation and memory. They knew that certain cells in this area are responsible for keeping track of our location.

But what they didn't know was how these cells work together over longer periods of time. So, they conducted an experiment using mice. The mice were placed on a rotating wheel in a dark room, and they were allowed to run freely without any rewards or changes in their running direction.

The scientists found something interesting. They discovered that the activity of the cells in the MEC was not random, but rather organized in a very slow and rhythmic pattern. This pattern repeated itself over and over again, like a sequence. It involved almost all the cells in the MEC and happened even when the mice were not moving.

What's more, these rhythmic sequences were not observed in other nearby parts of the brain or in the visual cortex, which is responsible for processing what we see.

The scientists think that these ultraslow rhythmic sequences in the MEC might help connect different neurons and circuits in the brain over longer periods of time. This could be important for forming new memories and helping us navigate our surroundings.

In summary, these scientists discovered that cells in a specific part of the brain called the medial entorhinal cortex work together in a slow and rhythmic pattern to help us remember where we are and what we have experienced.

Gonzalo Cogno S., Obenhaus HA., Lautrup A., Jacobsen RI., Clopath C., Andersson SO., Donato F., Moser MB., Moser EI. Minute-scale oscillatory sequences in medial entorhinal cortex. Nature. 2024 Jan;625(7994):338-344. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06864-1. Epub 2023 Dec 20.