Searching for knowledge. The neurophysiology behind the exploration of hippocampal cognitive maps.

Exploring and interacting with the environment is crucial for animals’ survival. Neurons in the hippocampal formation support spatial exploration through locomotion, and eye movements in primates, as well as memory. However, how the hippocampus supports exploration across different cognitive domains remains unclear. In this thesis I will provide evidence that hippocampal rhythms support exploration of conceptual domains, further strengthening the parallels between spatial and mnemonic exploration. I will then show that attention underlies exploration of visual space giving rise to the grid-like response, a typical signature of spatial navigation. These findings deepen our understanding of the role of human’s hippocampal formation in cognition and open new avenues for research, particularly regarding the potential role of attention in navigating conceptual spaces.