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Brain's 'internal compass' found | Brain's 'internal compass' found |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The precise part of the brain that gives people a sense of direction has been pinpointed by scientists. | The precise part of the brain that gives people a sense of direction has been pinpointed by scientists. |
People with stronger nerve signals in their "internal compass" tended to be better navigators. | People with stronger nerve signals in their "internal compass" tended to be better navigators. |
The study, published in the journal Current Biology, suggested people get lost when their compass cannot keep up. | The study, published in the journal Current Biology, suggested people get lost when their compass cannot keep up. |
The researchers in London hope the discovery will help explain why direction sense can deteriorate in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. | The researchers in London hope the discovery will help explain why direction sense can deteriorate in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. |
Scientists have long believed that such a signal existed within the brain, but until now it had been pure speculation. | |
Researchers at University College London (UCL) asked 16 volunteers to familiarise themselves with a simple virtual courtyard. | Researchers at University College London (UCL) asked 16 volunteers to familiarise themselves with a simple virtual courtyard. |
They were then asked to navigate the area, from memory alone, while their brains were being scanned by an MRI machine. | They were then asked to navigate the area, from memory alone, while their brains were being scanned by an MRI machine. |
The scans revealed a part of the brain - known as the entorhinal region - fired up consistently during the tasks. | The scans revealed a part of the brain - known as the entorhinal region - fired up consistently during the tasks. |
The stronger the signal in the region, the better the volunteers were at finding their way around correctly. | The stronger the signal in the region, the better the volunteers were at finding their way around correctly. |
Dr Hugo Spiers, who led the study, said: "Studies on London cab drivers have shown that the first thing they do when they work out a route is calculate which direction they need to head in. | Dr Hugo Spiers, who led the study, said: "Studies on London cab drivers have shown that the first thing they do when they work out a route is calculate which direction they need to head in. |
"We now know the entorhinal cortex is responsible for such calculations and the quality of the signals from this region seem to determine how good someone's navigational skills will be." | "We now know the entorhinal cortex is responsible for such calculations and the quality of the signals from this region seem to determine how good someone's navigational skills will be." |
Dr Martin Chadwick, who was also involved in the study, explained: "Our results provide evidence to support the idea that your internal compass readjusts as you move through the environment. | Dr Martin Chadwick, who was also involved in the study, explained: "Our results provide evidence to support the idea that your internal compass readjusts as you move through the environment. |
"For example if you turn left, then your entorhinal region should process this to shift your facing direction and goal direction accordingly. | "For example if you turn left, then your entorhinal region should process this to shift your facing direction and goal direction accordingly. |
"If you get lost after taking too many turns, this may be because your brain could not keep up and failed to adjust." | "If you get lost after taking too many turns, this may be because your brain could not keep up and failed to adjust." |
Degenerative diseases | Degenerative diseases |
Previous work by UCL researchers uncovered the role the entorhinal region plays in helping people understand what direction they are facing. | Previous work by UCL researchers uncovered the role the entorhinal region plays in helping people understand what direction they are facing. |
This new work suggests the area also helps them decide which direction to move in when heading to a new location. | This new work suggests the area also helps them decide which direction to move in when heading to a new location. |
Dr John Isaac, from the Wellcome Trust, which funded the study, said: "Why some people are better navigators than others is intrinsically interesting, but it also helps us explain the processes that go wrong in degenerative diseases such as dementia - leaving people feeling lost and confused." | Dr John Isaac, from the Wellcome Trust, which funded the study, said: "Why some people are better navigators than others is intrinsically interesting, but it also helps us explain the processes that go wrong in degenerative diseases such as dementia - leaving people feeling lost and confused." |
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