Summary

Spatial cognition in mammals depends on position-related activity in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells carry distinct maps as rodents move around. The grid cell map is thought to measure angles and distances from previous locations using path integration, a strategy of internally tracking self motion. However, path integration accumulates errors and must be ‘reset’ by external sensory cues. Allowing rats to explore an open arena, we recorded spiking neurons from areas interconnected with the entorhinal cortex, including subcortical structures and the hippocampus. Many of these subcortical regions help coordinate the hippocampal theta rhythm. Thus, we looked for spatial information in theta-rhythmic spiking and discovered ‘phaser cells’ in the lateral septum, which receives dense hippocampal input. Phaser cells encoded the rat’s position by shifting spike timing in symmetry with spatial changes in firing rate. We theorized that symmetric rate-phase coupling allows downstream networks to flexibly learn spatial patterns of synchrony. Using dynamical models and simulations, we showed that phaser cells may collectively transmit a fast, oscillatory reset signal. Our findings develop a new perspective on the temporal coding of space that may help disentangle competing models of path integration and cross-species differences in navigation.