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Peer-reviewedCC BYNature Neuroscience

Hippocampal theta sweeps indicate goal direction during navigation

  • Changmin Yu1,2
  • Zilong Ji3,4
  • Jake Ormond5,6
  • John M. O'Keefe7,6
  • Neil Burgess8,9,10,11
11 affiliations
  1. 1Computational and Biological Learning Lab, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. [email protected]
  2. 2Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK. [email protected]
  3. 3Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
  4. 4Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
  5. 5Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
  6. 6Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK
  7. 7Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
  8. 8Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK. [email protected]
  9. 9Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK. [email protected]
  10. 10Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. [email protected]
  11. 11Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London, UK. [email protected]
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Abstract

Successful spatial navigation requires rapid evaluation of potential future trajectories. Hippocampal 'theta sweeps', the sequential activation of place cells within individual theta cycles, exhibit predictive dynamics within the ideal timeframe for this role. However, whether these sequences reflect movement-related variables, perceptual targets or more cognitive goal-directed planning remains unresolved. Using data from the 'Honeycomb' maze, which dissociates head, movement and goal directions, we found that theta sweeps form vectors toward remembered goal locations independent of the rat's movement or heading directions. Stronger goal modulation preceded correct navigational choices, establishing the relevance of theta sweeps for spatial planning. A hierarchical continuous attractor network with goal-oriented directional inputs reproduced these findings and made several nontrivial predictions, which we confirmed empirically. Sequential activity during immobility-related sharp-wave ripples was also goal directed and, therefore, more aligned with theta sweeps than with previously experienced trajectories. Our findings identify hippocampal theta sweeps as neural substrates for online goal-directed planning.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yu2026hippocampal,
  title = {{Hippocampal theta sweeps indicate goal direction during navigation}},
  author = {Changmin Yu and Zilong Ji and Jake Ormond and John M. O'Keefe and Neil Burgess},
  journal = {Nature Neuroscience},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1038/s41593-026-02365-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-026-02365-2},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Hippocampal theta sweeps indicate goal direction during navigation
AU  - Changmin Yu
AU  - Zilong Ji
AU  - Jake Ormond
AU  - John M. O'Keefe
AU  - Neil Burgess
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/01
JO  - Nature Neuroscience
DO  - 10.1038/s41593-026-02365-2
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-026-02365-2
AB  - Successful spatial navigation requires rapid evaluation of potential future trajectories. Hippocampal 'theta sweeps', the sequential activation of place cells within individual theta cycles, exhibit predictive dynamics within the ideal timeframe for this role. However, whether these sequences reflect movement-related variables, perceptual targets or more cognitive goal-directed planning remains unresolved. Using data from the 'Honeycomb' maze, which dissociates head, movement and goal directions, we found that theta sweeps form vectors toward remembered goal locations independent of the rat's movement or heading directions. Stronger goal modulation preceded correct navigational choices, establishing the relevance of theta sweeps for spatial planning. A hierarchical continuous attractor network with goal-oriented directional inputs reproduced these findings and made several nontrivial predictions, which we confirmed empirically. Sequential activity during immobility-related sharp-wave ripples was also goal directed and, therefore, more aligned with theta sweeps than with previously experienced trajectories. Our findings identify hippocampal theta sweeps as neural substrates for online goal-directed planning.
SN  - 1097-6256
SN  - 1546-1726
ER  -