Hippocampal-prefrontal communication subspaces align with behavioral and network patterns in a spatial memory task

Rhythmic network states have been theorized to facilitate communication between brain regions, but how these oscillations influence communication subspaces, i.e., the low-dimensional neural activity patterns that mediate interregional communication, and in turn how subspaces impact behavior remain unclear. Using a spatial memory task in rats (male Long-Evans rats), we simultaneously recorded ensembles from hippocampal CA1 and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to address this question. We found that task behaviors best aligned with low-dimensional, shared subspaces between these regions rather than local activity in either region. Critically, both network oscillations and speed modulated the structure and performance of this communication subspace. To understand the communication space, we visualized shared CA1-PFC communication geometry using manifold techniques and found ring-like structures. We hypothesize that these shared activity manifolds are utilized to mediate the task behavior. These findings suggest that memory-guided behaviors are driven by shared CA1-PFC interactions that are dynamically modulated by oscillatory states, offering a novel perspective on the interplay between rhythms and behaviorally relevant neural communication.