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Introduction
The sense of place and the ability to navigate
are some of the most fundamental brain
functions. The sense of place gives a
perception of the position of the body in the
environment and in relation to surrounding
objects. During navigation, it is interlinked
with a sense of distance and direction that is
based on the integration of motion and
knowledge of previous positions. We
depend on these spatial functions for
recognizing
and
remembering
the
environment to find our way.
Questions about these fundamental brain
functions have engaged philosophers and
scientists for a long time. During the 18th
century the German philosopher Immanuel
Kant (1724-1804) argued that some mental
abilities exist independent of experience. He
considered perception of place as one of
these innate abilities through which the
external world had to be organized and
perceived.
A concept of a map-like representation of
place in the brain was advocated for by the
American experimental psychologist Edward
Tolman, who studied how animals learn to
navigate (Tolman, 1948). He proposed that
animals could experience relationships
between places and events and that the
exploration of the environment gradually
resulted in the formation of a cognitive map
that enabled animals to navigate and find
the optimal path through the environment.
In this view, cognitive maps represent the
environment as a gestalt that allows the
subject to experience the room and navigate.
Conclusions
The discoveries of place and grid cells by
John OKeefe, May-Britt Moser and Edvard I.
Moser present a paradigm shift in our
understanding of how ensembles of
specialized cells work together to execute
higher cognitive functions. The discoveries
have profoundly promoted new research
with grid and place cell systems now found
in many mammals, including humans.
Studies of the navigation system have
opened new avenues for studying how
cognitive processes are computed in the
brain.
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