John O’Keefe (US & UK)
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John O’Keefe is a true pioneer in the field of neuroscience. He’s been studying the brain and how it controls behavior since the late 1960s. While conducting research on rats he made the groundbreaking discovery that certain nerve cells were activated when the animals moved freely around a room and assumed a particular place in the environment. He named these cells “place cells” because they were creating an inner map of the environment, not just registering visual input.
The hippocampus — the portion of the brain which controls memories — can store the memories created by the activity of place cells. His conclusion? The hippocampus is a cognitive map for spatial memory functions.
The discoveries by the Mosers and O’Keefe can ultimately lead to new diagnostic tools and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
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