Short Wave Time Cells Don't Really Care About Time
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Jan 3, 2023 Jon Hamilton, NPR's science correspondent and neuroscience expert, dives into the intriguing world of time cells. He explains how these neurons help embed our personal memories with vivid details, challenging the notion that they solely track time. Discussing the relationship between time and place cells, he reveals their interchangeable roles in memory and navigation. With insights into how our brains manage perceptions of time using logarithmic scales, Hamilton makes us rethink our understanding of memory and time itself.
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Time Cells and Memory
- Time cells are special neurons that timestamp events, allowing us to remember things in order.
- These timestamps embed within our memories, replaying when we recall the experience.
Coffee Brewing Example
- Jon Hamilton uses the example of brewing coffee to explain how time cells function.
- The steps of grinding, brewing, and pouring are time-stamped, creating a sequential memory.
Time Cell Discovery
- Time cells were a hunch until about 10 years ago and were formally identified in rats in 2011.
- In 2020, researchers found time cells in humans, primarily in the hippocampus.