Research on the human brain by researchers at Drexel University (Philadelphia), the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA and Thomas Jefferson University reveals that the human brain has “GPS” neurons.
This study confirms previous research carried out on rats. Scientists from the University of California (San Diego) had already discovered this same type of cells called “grid” on rodents. These neurons, active during movement, identify several locations in space and allow them to be stored in memory for easier navigation. Without them, man would get lost.
Cells called “grid” to move around
To come to this conclusion, Dr Joshua Jacobs, and his team, studied the brain recordings of 14 patients with epilepsy while they played navigation and object retrieval video games. The team analyzed the relationship between patient orientation and neuronal activity. She confirms that, as with rats, humans have grid cells dedicated to movement in space.
These cells are located in the hippocampus, cingulate cortex and entorhinal cortex. If people with Alzheimer’s disease are often confused, it is because their region essential to the movement of the brain is largely affected by the disease.
