A metric for the cognitive map: found at last?
A network of brain areas collectively represent location, but the underlying nature of this "cognitive map" has remained elusive. A recent study reports that the activity patterns of some entorhinal cortical neurons form a remarkably regular array of evenly spaced peaks across the surface of the environment. These "grid cells" might be the basis of a metric used for calculating position, and their discovery could greatly advance our understanding of how navigational computations are performed.
Jeffery
Kathryn J
KJ
Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H OAP, UK. k.jeffery@ucl.ac.uk
Burgess
Neil
N
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D013028:Space Perception