Grid cell

Grid cell is a type of neuron within the entorhinal cortex that fires at regular intervals as an animal navigates an open area, allowing it to understand its position in space by providing a kind of 'inner GPS'.

Function

Grid cells are crucial for the brain's navigation system. They fire in a hexagonal grid pattern, and each cell represents a specific location in the environment. This allows the brain to keep track of the animal's position even in the dark or without landmarks. Grid cells work together with place cells and head direction cells to form the brain's spatial navigation system.

Discovery

Grid cells were discovered in 2005 by Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Their discovery of grid cells and their role in spatial navigation earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2014.

Research

Research on grid cells has provided insights into how the brain understands and represents space. Studies have shown that grid cells are not just involved in navigation, but also in memory and planning. They are also thought to be involved in neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

See also

• Place cell
• Head direction cell
• Spatial navigation
• Entorhinal cortex
• Neuron

References

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