Your Brain Cells can Predict your Future: New Science Discovery

Brain Cells Predict the Future: New Discovery

Japanese researchers have identified a brain region responsible for predicting future locations. Located in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), these newly discovered “predictive grid cells” anticipate where an animal will be, helping to explain how we effortlessly navigate our surroundings.

Previously, scientists knew about grid cells in the MEC that map out an animal’s current location. This groundbreaking research, published in Science, reveals a new layer of complexity in the brain’s navigation system.

By monitoring the brain activity of rats as they explored an environment, researchers discovered that certain cells fired in anticipation of the rat’s upcoming position. These predictive grid cells create an internal map of future locations, constantly updating as the animal moves.

The findings suggest that these cells play a crucial role in spatial navigation and memory formation, potentially providing insights into conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, which affects the hippocampus and MEC.

Citation:
Navigating the future: Brain cells that plan where to go (2024, August 15)
retrieved 15 August 2024

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