Distributed cortical learning through LEC-mediated γ-synchrony | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Distributed cortical learning through LEC-mediated γ-synchrony Ji-Song Guan, Di Yun, Zheng Wang, Shenglin Zhao, Zhenjie Wang, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7826395/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Despite the well-established theoretical and experimental foundations of dopamine-driven reinforcement learning, how the reward prediction error (RPE) teaching signal modifies specific cortical memory networks remains unclear. Neural oscillations are crucial for the temporal binding of activities across distributed cell ensembles. Here, we identify that lateral entorhinal cortex layer 5 (LEC 5 ) mediated intercortical γ-synchrony is a neural correlate of the RPE signal derived from dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA DA ). The VTA DA -LEC 5 circuit-based intercortical γ-synchrony facilitates both learning and memory retention, and at the single-cell level, entrains the activity of cortical latent Engrams. Human brain recordings also demonstrate a universal role of γ-synchrony in the processing of prediction errors. These findings suggest that LEC 5 -mediated intercortical γ-synchrony serves as the nexus connecting reinforcement learning with the formation of cortical memory networks. Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Learning and memory Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Neural circuits Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7826395","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":530169684,"identity":"74af6109-7bc8-4f6f-a9aa-0912fd9754a7","order_by":0,"name":"Ji-Song 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