The hippocampus as a small-world cognitive map
Jason Z. Kim, James P. Sethna, Itai Cohen, Weinan Sun · 2026
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Description
Jason Z Kim and colleagues model in 2026 the mental map mice use to search memory for safe places to run. Imaging thousands of hippocampus cells while mice learned a memory-guided task fed a new geometry-aware model. A good map must keep nearby places distinct while still letting distant options be found fast.
The population code solved both needs with a small-world layout, much like efficient social networks. Slow rotation and drift of activity kept fresh maps separate from older ones without losing local detail. Certain cells fired across distant spots, forming shortcuts that link far-apart memories. During quiet rest, activity often leapt along those shortcuts, as if the brain rehearsed distant options offline.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Jason Z. Kim, James P. Sethna, Itai Cohen, Weinan Sun |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 64 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |