Brain Wide Coordination of Neural Ensembles and Network Rhythms in Memory

The field of systems neuroscience increasingly seeks to understand how distributed neural populations interact to support complex cognitive functions such as memory. Evidence from electrophysiology, imaging, and computational modeling shows that memory processes emerge from coordinated activity across hippocampal, cortical, and subcortical circuits rather than from isolated brain regions. Local network oscillations—including theta, gamma, and sharp wave ripples—play critical roles in encoding and retrieval, yet important questions remain about how these rhythms coordinate across brain regions to enable effective information flow and long‑term storage.

This Research Topic aims to uncover the principles underlying brain wide coordination during memory formation and retrieval. We seek to integrate insights from electrophysiology, large scale recording, imaging, causal perturbations, and computational modeling to better understand how neuronal ensembles, network oscillations, and inter regional connectivity interact to support memory. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies revealing causal mechanisms, cross regional coordination, and theoretical frameworks that bridge empirical findings with systems level explanations.

We welcome contributions investigating the coordinated dynamics of distributed neural populations involved in memory processes across species and experimental approaches.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Organization and function of neuronal ensembles (engrams) in memory encoding and retrieval
• Cross regional coupling and synchrony mediated by network oscillations (theta, gamma, sharp wave ripples)
• Mechanisms of communication between hippocampal, cortical, and subcortical circuits
• Integrative approaches combining large scale neural recording, causal perturbation, and computational modeling
• Comparative and translational frameworks linking neural dynamics to memory guided behavior across tasks and species

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Neuronal ensembles, Neural oscillations, Brain-wide dynamics, Inter-areal communication, Memory consolidation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.