We review evidence indicating that different network patterns represent multiple communication modes between hippocampal-prefrontal regions by providing conduits for selective exchange of information according to current cognitive demands and internal state. These network patterns may thus play a role in globally organizing activity across hippocampal-prefrontal networks by enabling distinct mechanisms for synchronization of activity at different timescales. In order to dissect and establish the necessity of these network patterns in cognition, we suggest a multi-faceted approach: first, employing behavioral paradigms that prominently engage distinct cognitive demands; second, simultaneous physiological monitoring of ensemble activity to characterize representational similarity and coherent information processing across regions; and finally, causal perturbation techniques to selectively disrupt inter-regional coordination. We reason that this approach will delineate a coherent and dynamic functional organization of a multi-region network that is necessary for memory-guided behavior.
