Cell assemblies, sequences and temporal coding in the hippocampus.

Abstract

Like social networks, neurons in the brain are organized in neuronal ensembles that constrain and at the same time enrich the role and temporal precision of activity of individual neurons. Changes in coordinated firing across cortical neurons as well as selective changes in timing and sequential order across neurons that are important for encoding of novel information have collectively been known as ensemble temporal coding. Here we review recent findings on the role of online and offline temporal coding within sequential cell assemblies from the rodent hippocampus thought be important for memory encoding and consolidation and for spatial navigation. We propose that temporal coding in the rodent hippocampus represented as plasticity in replay activity relies primarily on subtle and selective changes in coordinated firing within the microstructure of individual cell assembly organization during sleep.