A Map-like Micro-Organization of Grid Cells in the Medial Entorhinal Cortex. Author Yi Gu, Sam Lewallen, Amina Kinkhabwala, Cristina Domnisoru, KiJung Yoon, Jeffrey Gauthier, Ila Fiete, David Tank Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract How the topography of neural circuits relates to their function remains unclear. Although topographic maps exist for sensory and motor variables, they are rarely observed for cognitive variables. Using calcium imaging during virtual navigation, we investigated the relationship between the anatomical organization and functional properties of grid cells, which represent a cognitive code for location during navigation. We found a substantial degree of grid cell micro-organization in mouse medial entorhinal cortex: grid cells and modules all clustered anatomically. Within a module, the layout of grid cells was a noisy two-dimensional lattice in which the anatomical distribution of grid cells largely matched their spatial tuning phases. This micro-arrangement of phases demonstrates the existence of a topographical map encoding a cognitive variable in rodents. It contributes to a foundation for evaluating circuit models of the grid cell network and is consistent with continuous attractor models as the mechanism of grid formation. Keywords Animals, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Male, Nerve Net, Entorhinal Cortex, Grid Cells Journal Cell Volume 175 Issue 3 Pages 736-750.e30 Date Published 2018 Oct 18 ISSN Number 1097-4172 DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.066 Alternate Journal Cell PMCID PMC6591153 PMID 30270041 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML