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New research sheds light on brain’s GPS system
Grid cells are the brain’s GPS system. But do they use brain waves to gather information about speed and direction? Researchers at the University of Oslo resolved the question.
Part of the research team behind the new study on whether brain waves provide the brain’s GPS system with information about speed and direction. From the left, Professor Marianne Fyhn, Mikkel Elle Lepperød and Kristian K. Lensjø, all at the University of Oslo. Photo: Ola Sæther, Ui
In order to navigate at sea or just to your front door, you have to keep track of direction, speed and distance. Grid cells acquire continuous information about the direction and speed at which you move in space. Using this information, the cells create a type of map in your brain. But how do the grid cells generate this map?