Researchers at the University of Utah Health have discovered that a specific population of “time cells” in mice is essential for learning complex behaviors where timing is critical. These time cells act like a clock, firing in sequence to map out short periods of time. As animals learn to distinguish between differently timed events, the pattern of time cell activity changes to represent each event differently. Understanding how the brain processes time could help in the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, as the medial entorhinal cortex, where time cells are located, is one of the first areas affected by the disease.
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Study shows the critical role of time cells in complex behavioral learning
