title: Hippocampal theta sequences reflect current goals.
abstract: Hippocampal information processing is discretized by oscillations, and the ensemble activity of place cells is organized into temporal sequences bounded by theta cycles. Theta sequences represent time-compressed trajectories through space. Their forward-directed nature makes them an intuitive candidate mechanism for planning future trajectories, but their connection to goal-directed behavior remains unclear. As rats performed a value-guided decision-making task, the extent to which theta sequences projected ahead of the animal's current location varied on a moment-by-moment basis depending on the rat's goals. Look-ahead extended farther on journeys to distant goals than on journeys to more proximal goals and was predictive of the animal's destination. On arrival at goals, however, look-ahead was similar regardless of where the animal began its journey from. Together, these results provide evidence that hippocampal theta sequences contain information related to goals or intentions, pointing toward a potential spatial basis for planning.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wikenheiser
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Redish
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D006040:Goals; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012201:Reward; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*