Simultaneous awake replay of multiple spatial representations

How the hippocampus processes multiple spatial memories during awake decision-making remains unclear. Using a rat observational navigation task, we tested whether distinct spatial representations are replayed simultaneously during sharp-wave ripple-associated population bursts. Place cell sequences representing multiple T-maze trajectories were frequently replayed together during reward consumption and were particularly prominent in the observation box. These simultaneous replay events reflected the spatial organization of the maze, preferentially converged on reward sites, distinguished future behavioral choices, and were associated with choice-selective activity in anterior cingulate cortex. Replay of a single trajectory showed weaker relationships to behavior and cortical activity. These findings establish simultaneous awake replay of multiple spatial representations and support a role for parallel hippocampal processing during reward-directed observational navigation.