The mechanisms of theta compression and expansion can effectively serve memory mechanisms. If locations are regarded as analogous to individual items in a memory buffer15,54,87, the theta-nested assembly organization limits the number of items that can be stored within a single theta cycle54. Accordingly, only a limited amount of information can be recalled from memory stores and consciously experienced at any given time. Analogously to zoom representation of distances, an episodic recall can have a fine spatiotemporal resolution for the conditions and context that surround a recalled event, whereas the relationships among items with longer temporal separation are progressively less resolved56. Moreover, temporally closer events are recalled with more sensory and contextual details than temporally distant events49. As the content of recall moves forward in time, the upcoming events can gain high contextual resolution75, as predicted by the physiological organization of theta-nested assemblies.
