Dive Brief:
- John O'Keefe, May Britt-Moser and Edvard I. Moser have received Nobel Awards in Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain."
- Based on work that took place between 1971 and 2005, the work of the three researchers has finally helped answer the question: "How does the brain create a map of the space surrounding us and how can we navigate our way through a complex environment?"
- Their work has practical applications in neurosurgery and in research related to Alzheimer's disease.
Dive Insight:
According to a press release from the Nobel Prize committee, "The discovery of the brain's positioning system represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of how ensembles of specialized cells work together to execute higher cognitive functions. It has opened new avenues for understanding other cognitive processes, such as memory, thinking and planning."