- Scientists have located a "mileage clock" in the brain for the first time, identifying specific "grid cells" crucial for memory and navigation.
- Research involving rats and human volunteers demonstrated that these cells "fire" in a pattern mirroring the distance travelled.
- The regularity of the grid cells' firing pattern was directly linked to the accuracy of distance estimation in both species.
- Changes in the environment, such as altering the shape of an arena, disrupted the firing patterns and led to errors in distance judgment.
- These findings offer new insights into the brain's internal navigation system and could potentially aid in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
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