Excited to share my PhD results showing a hierarchical coordinate system for sequence memory in human EC. https://t.co/8KicCW0j73 Below is a thread explaining this nonsense. 1/9

And a big thanks to my participants for bravely going through hours of training and listening to non-melodic auditory sequences over the course of four days. 9/9

Finally, I want to thank my co-authors for sticking with me for all these years it was in the making. It would not be possible without you @BakermansJJW, @BaramAlon, Debora Ledergerber, Lukas Imbach, Emma Müller-Seydlitz, @HelenCBarron, @behrenstimb. 8/9

Our findings mirror the properties of the grid cells that form a coordinate system for space. We believe that coordinate systems can be used as a scaffold for any memories, not just spatial ones. Moreover, the same coding principles are preserved across domains and species.

Finally, we show that this coordinate system is abstract. To do so, we only included pictures presented across two different sequences, removing all the possible biases because of sequence-specific reasons. We again find the abstract hierarchical coordinate representation. 7/9

We also replicated our results in an independent dataset. The second dataset was acquired 3 years later than the first dataset. We again found the hierarchical coordinate system embedded in the anatomy of EC. 6/9

Using fMRI we show a coordinate system for complex hierarchical sequences. Amazingly, the representations of those coordinates are also arranged anatomically along the A-P axis of EC, just like the grid modules in rodents. 5/9

We then did an fMRI experiment, but now healthy volunteers were learning complex hierarchical auditory sequences. We chose hierarchical structure because the grid cell system is organised hierarchically in modules, and these modules are anatomically separated along EC. 4/9

We recorded single units in the human EC and hippocampus, while epelipsy patients were learning simple sequences of four elements. We found abstract, coordinate-like coding of the task structure and specifically of positions in the 4-element sequence. 3/9

Grid cells in rodent EC form an abstract coordinate system for space: it abstracts over sensory experience. This makes the grid-cell system an efficient scaffold for spatial memories. Are the same coding principles used for non-spatial memories in human EC? 2/9

And a hidden treasure for all entorhinal aficionados! Watch out for the last talk in this #LEARNMEM2023 symposium today ⤵️with some very interesting findings on human EC function by @AnnaShpektor

If you’re at #LEARNMEM2023 come check out our symposium on frontal-temporal ensembles and flexible learning; Sunday 2:30-4:30pm PDT. @AnnaShpektor, @foundmymarbles , @Nickfrostneuro and me will present data and models from rodents and humans!

Top fact: Jacob made a supervisor simulator game where you get to be me. You have to avoid the students and emails and collect the whisky. Play it here: https://t.co/dsRuU8Gdsm

Not sure Tiwtters magic will be enough to solve this one but any chance you know a Russian speaking kids psychologist based in Oxford? The kid is very traumatized after the war and online psychologist doesn’t work unfortunately

Thanks Twitter for being amazing once again - accomodation found :)

The dates are from Wednesday to Saturday this week

I’d be very thankful if anyone can host them while they are waiting for the ferry. Thanks!

Anyone has a spare room for 3 nights somewhere near Den Haag or Utrecht for a Ukrainian family with 2 cats? They had to wait in Poland 8 weeks to get their UK visas and now they have to travel all the way from Poland to the UK by busses and a ferry.

Does anyone have any connections with the Said Business School in Oxford? We need some professional help for a non-profit project aiming to help the Ukrainian refugee community in Oxfordshire

Ideally, for various reasons they are looking for a sponsor in Oxfordshire