Nelson Spruston studies the hippocampus, with an emphasis on uncovering the diversity and complexity of cells and synapses that allow this brain structure to contribute to memory-guided behavior, such as spatial navigation and emotional responses. Spruston and his team use a combination of approaches – including a variety of imaging methods, next-generation RNA sequencing, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, and behavior – to study the diversity of cell types in the mouse hippocampus. Spruston’s research has implications for understanding how memories are stored and recalled, as well as diseases that affect these processes.