Grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex construct an intriguing multiperiodic representation of space whose properties have been the subject of much theoretical speculation. Here we combine modeling and analyses of entorhinal cortex population recordings to show that the grid cell representation is ideally set up to decorrelate and assign easily distinguishable labels to inputs, thus potentially acting as a pattern separation device, much like a hash function in computing. The multiple modules of the grid cell system allow the threshold for pattern separation to be flexibly controlled. We also show that grid cells could provide similar pattern separation to higher-dimensional and abstract spaces. The flexible pattern separation ability could serve to enhance episodic memory in the hippocampal formation by reducing interference between similar patterns in a controllable way and thus boosting capacity.

—

To request the Zoom link send an email to jteeters@berkeley.edu.  Also indicate if you would like to be added to the Redwood Seminar mailing list.