Neural ensembles in navigation: From single cells to population codes

The brain can represent behaviorally relevant information through the firing of individual neurons as well as the coordinated firing of ensembles of neurons. Neurons in the hippocampus and associated cortical regions participate in a variety of types of ensembles to support navigation. These ensemble types include single cell codes, population codes, time-compressed sequences, behavioral sequences, and engrams. We present the physiological basis and behavioral relevance of ensemble firing. We discuss how these traditional definitions of ensembles can constrain or expand potential analyses due to the underlying assumptions and abstractions made. We highlight how coding can change at the ensemble level while underlying single cell codes remain intact. Finally, we present how ensemble definitions could be broadened to better understand the full complexity of the brain.