The discovery of the brain’s “inner GPS” by a British-American neuroscientist has been awarded the 2014 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine.
Professor John O’Keefe, 75, was the first to identify “place cells” in the brain, which allow us to create internal maps to navigate our environment, solving a problem that had occupied philosophers for centuries.
The work revolutionised neuroscience by showing that, rather than being stable in nature, the brain is constantly rewiring, and new networks can be formed within minutes of reaching a different location. The discovery that “place cells” are among the first to malfunction in Alzheimer’s disease could pave the way for new treatments.
Speaking today after learning of his award, Professor O’Keefe said: “If I sound like I’m in a