illustration of a blue model of brain

“The Mind-Body Connection Part III—Memory: How the brain maps memories in space and time”

Morris Moscovitch, the Max and Gianna Glassman Chair in Neuropsychology and Aging in the Department of Psychology at University of Toronto, will present at the next Origin Science Scholars program event.

His lecture, titled “The Mind-Body Connection Part III—Memory: How the brain maps memories in space and time,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Tinkham Veale University Center.

Talk details

Memory for specific life experiences is characterized by recollection of the flow of events in time and space that compose specific episodes, and this ability depends on a brain area called the hippocampus. In addition, networks of “time cells” in the hippocampus represent the temporal organization of specific memories and predict memory success. Plus, scientists have traced the origin of timing signals to a cortical area that also carries signals about space to the hippocampus.

Taken together, these findings support an emerging view that the hippocampus serves memory by mapping the organization of events within their temporal and spatial context, and connecting related memories in the building of knowledge. This capacity to map memories supports our ability to use memory for planning and insight in everyday life challenges.

Moscovitch will describe recent complementary evidence of “time cells” in the hippocampus that encode sequential moments in temporally structured experiences.

Program schedule:

  • 5:30 p.m.: Coffee and sign-in
  • 6 to 7 p.m.: Lectures
  • 7 to 7:30 p.m.: Dinner with faculty and fellows
  • 7:30 p.m.: Q&A and dessert

Parking will be available.

Registration is $40 for members and $48 for nonmembers.

Learn more and register online.

Series details

During this program, community members engage with one another and with leading scholars to investigate rapidly developing areas of origins science. Each evening begins with a presentation by a world-class researcher, followed by complimentary dinner and open discussion among all the participants.