Norbert J Fortin
Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Fellow, Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Director, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (Graduate)
Ph.D., Boston University, 2003, Neuroscience
B.S., McGill University, 1998, Psychology
B.S., McGill University, 1998, Psychology
University of California, Irvine
106 Bonney Research Laboratory Building
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
Mail Code: 3800
Irvine, CA 92697
106 Bonney Research Laboratory Building
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior
Mail Code: 3800
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Memory, episodic memory, sequence memory, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, electrophysiology, temporary brain inactivations
Academic Distinctions
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral fellowship (NRSA) from NIH (2006-2008).
- Finalist for the Donald B. Lindsley Prize for Most Outstanding Thesis in Behavioral Neuroscience (awarded by the Grass Foundation and the Society for Neuroscience; 2004).
- Graduate fellowship from the “Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l’Aide à la Recherche (FCAR)”, Québec, Canada (2002-2003).
- Presidential University Graduate Fellowship, from Boston University (1998-2002).
- Graduate Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC; 1998-2002).
- First Class Honours Degree in Psychology, McGill University (1998).
- Dean's Honour List, McGill University (1998).
- McConnell Award, McGill University (1996-1997).
- Finalist for the Donald B. Lindsley Prize for Most Outstanding Thesis in Behavioral Neuroscience (awarded by the Grass Foundation and the Society for Neuroscience; 2004).
- Graduate fellowship from the “Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l’Aide à la Recherche (FCAR)”, Québec, Canada (2002-2003).
- Presidential University Graduate Fellowship, from Boston University (1998-2002).
- Graduate Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC; 1998-2002).
- First Class Honours Degree in Psychology, McGill University (1998).
- Dean's Honour List, McGill University (1998).
- McConnell Award, McGill University (1996-1997).
Research Abstract
The main goal of my lab is to elucidate the neural mechanisms by which the brain temporally organizes our memories, an ability that is particularly affected in aging and in cognitive disorders. To investigate this important issue, we use a combination of temporary brain inactivation and high-density electrophysiological recording techniques in the rat. We are particularly interested in understanding the role of the hippocampus, parahippocampal region, and prefrontal cortex, as well as their functional interactions.
Publications
44. Zhou W, Qu A, Cooper KW, Fortin N, Shahbaba B (preprint) A Model-Agnostic Graph Neural Network for Integrating Local and Global Information. :: DOI: https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.13459
41. El-Yaagoubi A, Fortin N, Pinto M, Ombao, H (2023). Smooth Online Parameter Estimation for time-varying VAR models with application to rat brain LFP data. Statistics and Its Interface: 16, 227-257. :: DOI: 10.4310/22-SII729
40. Granados-Garcia G, Fiecas M, Shahbaba B, Fortin N, Ombao H (2022). Brain Waves Analysis Via a Non-Parametric Bayesian Mixture of Autoregressive Kernels. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis: 174, 107409. :: DOI: 10.1016/j.csda.2021.107409
39. Gattas S, Elias GA, Janecek J, Yassa MA, Fortin NJ (2022) Proximal CA1 20–40 Hz power dynamics reflect trial-specific information processing supporting nonspatial sequence memory. eLife: 11, e55528. :: DOI: 10.7554/eLife.55528
38. Shahbaba B, Li L, Agostinelli F, Saraf M, Cooper KW, Haghverdian D, Elias GA, Baldi P, Fortin NJ (2022) Hippocampal ensembles represent sequential relationships among an extended sequence of nonspatial events. Nature Communications: 13, 787. :: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28057-6
37. Gao X, Shen W, Zhang L, Hu J, Fortin NJ, Frostig RD, Ombao H (2021) Regularized matrix data clustering and its application to image analysis. Biometrics: 77, 890-902. :: DOI: 10.1111/biom.13354
36. Chen T, Li L, Elias GA, Fortin NJ, Shahbaba B (preprint) Bayesian Neural Decoding Using A Diversity-Encouraging Latent Representation Learning Method. :: http://arxiv.org/abs/1910.05695v1
35. Hu L, Guindani M, Fortin NJ, Ombao H (2020) A Hierarchical Bayesian Model for Differential Connectivity in Multi-trial Brain Signals. Econometrics and Statistics: 15, 117-135. :: DOI: 10.1016/j.ecosta.2020.03.009
34. Allen LM, Lesyshyn RA, O'Dell SJ, Allen TA, Fortin NJ (2020) The hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and perirhinal cortex are critical to incidental order memory. Behavioural Brain Research: 379, 112215. :: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112215
33. Lan S, Holbrook A, Elias GA, Fortin NJ, Ombao H, Shahbaba B (2020) Flexible Bayesian Dynamic Modeling of Correlation and Covariance Matrices. Bayesian Analysis: 15, 1199-1228. :: DOI: 10.1214/19-BA1173
32. Li L, Pluta D, Shahbaba B, Fortin NJ, Ombao H, Baldi P (2019) Modeling Dynamic Functional Connectivity with Latent Factor Gaussian Processes. NeurIPS
31. Gao X, Shen W, Hu J, Fortin NJ, Ombao H (2019) Modeling Local Field Potentials with Regularized Matrix Data Clustering. International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER. :: DOI: 10.1109/ner.2019.8717132
30. Gao X, Shen W, Shahbaba B, Fortin NJ, Ombao H (2020). Evolutionary state-space model and its application to time-frequency analysis of local field potentials. Statistica Sinica. DOI: 10.5705/ss.202017.0420
29. Hu L, Fortin NJ, Ombao H (2017) Modeling high dimensional multichannel brain signals. Statistics in Biosciences: 11, 1-36. DOI: 10.1007/s12561-017-9210-3
28. Ng CW, Elias GA, Asem JSA, Allen TA, Fortin NJ (2018) Nonspatial sequence coding varies along the CA1 transverse axis. Behav Brain Res: 354, 39-47. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.10.015.
27. Asem JSA, Fortin NJ (2017) Memory for Space, Time and Episodes. In R. Menzel (Ed.), Learning Theory and Behavior. Vol. 1 of Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference, 4 vols. (J. Byrne Editor), pp. 255-283. Elsevier, Oxford. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.21015-8
26. Holbrook A, Vandenberg-Rodes A, Fortin N, Shahbaba B (2017) A Bayesian supervised dual-dimensionality reduction model for simultaneous decoding of LFP and spike train signals. Stat: 6, 53-67.
25. Allen TA, Salz DM, McKenzie S, Fortin NJ (2016) Non-spatial sequence coding in CA1 neurons. Journal of Neuroscience: 36(5), 1547–1563.
24. Allen TA, Morris AM, Stark SM, Fortin NJ, Stark CEL (2015) Memory for sequences of events impaired in typical aging. Learning & Memory: 22(3), 138-48.
23. Allen TA, Morris AM, Mattfeld AT, Stark CEL, Fortin NJ (2014) A Sequence of Events Model of Episodic Memory Shows Parallels in Rats and Humans. Hippocampus: 24(10), 1178-88.
22. MacDonald CJ, Fortin NJ, Sakata S, Meck WH (2014) Retrospective and prospective views on the role of the hippocampus in interval timing and memory for elapsed time. Timing and Time Perception: 2, 51-61.
21. Allen TA, Fortin NJ (2013) Reply to Rattenborg and Martinez-Gonzalez: Fundamental and divergent aspects of the neurobiology of episodic memory. PNAS.
20. Jacobs NS, Allen TA, Nguyen N, Fortin NJ (2013) Critical Role of the Hippocampus in Memory for Elapsed Time. Journal of Neuroscience: 33, 13888-13893.
19. Allen TA, Fortin NJ (2013) The evolution of episodic memory. PNAS: 110 (Suppl 2), 10379-10386.
18. Snigdha S, Milgram NW, Willis SL, Albert M, Weintraub S, Fortin NJ, Cotman CW (2013) A preclinical cognitive test battery to parallel the National Institute of Health Toolbox in humans: bridging the translational gap. Neurobiology of Aging: 34, 1891-1901.
17. Feinberg LM, Allen TA, Ly D, Fortin NJ (2012) Recognition memory for social and non-social odors: Differential effects of neurotoxic lesions to the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory: 97, 7-16.
16. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ, Sauvage MM, Robitsek RJ, Komorowski RW (2012) A comparative analysis of episodic memory: cognitive mechanisms and neural substrates. In Comparative Cognition: Experimental Explorations of Animal Intelligence (Eds. E. Wasserman, T. Zentall). Oxford Univ Press.
15. Eichenbaum H, Sauvage MM, Fortin NJ, Komorowski RW, Lipton PA (2011) Towards a functional organization of episodic memory in the medial temporal lobe. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. Epub ahead of print.
14. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ (2011) The Neurobiology of Memory-Based Predictions. In Predictions in the Brain: Using our Past to Generate a Future (Ed. M Bar). Oxford University Press.
13. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ, Sauvage MM, Robitsek RW, Farovik A (2010) An animal model of amnesia that uses Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis to distinguish recollection from familiarity deficits in recognition memory. Neuropsychologia: 48, 2281-2289.
12. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ (2009) The neurobiology of memory based predictions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: 364, 1183-1191.
11. Sauvage MM, Fortin NJ, Owens CB, Yonelinas AP, Eichenbaum H (2008) Recognition memory: opposite effects of hippocampal damage on recollection and familiarity. Nature Neuroscience: 11, 16-18.
10. Fortin NJ (2008) Navigation and episodic-like memory in mammals. In R. Menzel (Ed.), Learning Theory and Behavior. Vol. 1 of Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference, 4 vols. (J.Byrne Editor), pp. 385-418. Elsevier, Oxford.
9. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ, Ergorul C, Robitsek RJ (2008) Toward a neurobiology of episodic memory. In Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience (Eds: Dere E, Easton A, Nadel L, Huston JP), Vol 18 (Handbook of Episodic Memory), Pages 283-300. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
8. Robitsek RJ, Fortin NJ, Koh MT, Gallagher M, Eichenbaum H (2008) Cognitive aging: a common decline in episodic recollection and spatial memory in rats. Journal of Neuroscience: 28, 8945-8954.
7. Eichenbaum H, Sauvage MM, Fortin NJ, Yonelinas AP (2008) ROCs in rats? Response to Wixted and Squire. Learning and Memory: 15, 691-693.
6. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ (2005) Bridging the gap between brain and behavior: cognitive and neural mechanisms of episodic memory. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior: 84, 619-629.
5. Eichenbaum, Fortin, Ergorul, Wright, Agster (2005) Learning and Motivation.pdf Episodic recollection in animals: “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…” Learning and Motivation: 36, 190-207.
4. Fortin NJ, Wright SP, Eichenbaum H (2004) Recollection-like memory retrieval in rats is dependent on the hippocampus. Nature: 431, 188-191.
3. Eichenbaum H, Fortin NJ (2003) Episodic memory and the hippocampus: It’s about time. Current Directions in Psychological Science: 12, 53-56.
2. Agster KL*, Fortin NJ*, Eichenbaum H (2002) The hippocampus and disambiguation of overlapping sequences. Journal of Neuroscience: 22, 5760-5768. * KLA and NJF contributed equally to this work.
1. Fortin NJ, Agster KL, Eichenbaum H (2002) Critical role of the hippocampus in memory for sequences of events. Nature Neuroscience: 5, 458-462.
Grants
Whitehall Foundation Research Grant (2010-2013)
NSF CAREER Award IOS-1150292 (2012-2017)
NSF Award BCS-1439267 (2014-2018)
NIH R01 Award MH115697 (2018-2023)
NIH R01 Award DC017687 (2018-2023)
Professional Societies
Society for Neuroscience
Golden Key National Honor Society
Graduate Programs
Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
Neurobiology and Behavior
Research Centers
Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM)
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5602
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5602
Last updated
01/21/2026
01/21/2026