Nature Physics, Published online: 28 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41567-025-02984-9
Cells migrating through narrow spaces in their environment undergo repeated shape changes to pass through tight constrictions. Epithelial cells retain a memory of past confinement, allowing them to maintain a polarized, compact morphology that enhances future migration through narrow gaps. This memory is mechanically encoded in the actin cortex.
