Non-Linear Dynamics Generating Theta Phase Precession in Hippocampal Closed Circuit and Generation of Episodic Memory

We propose a hypothesis for the neural mechanism underlying theta phase precession of place cell firing, based on phase locking by mean field interactions in a coupled-oscillator system, followed by inheritance through the hippocampal circuit. It is demonstrated that the temporal pattern inherited through the network can result in encoding of the temporal sequence of experience as asymmetric connections in the recurrent neural network. The phase distribution predicted by the model is discussed in comparison with experimental observations.