https://meditropics.com/may-britt-moser/
*Rinku Choudhary ,
*Post Graduate Resident,, Department Of Medicine Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2014
Moser was born on 4th January 1963 in Fosnavag , Norway.
Childhood– May-Britt was born in the small town of Fosnavåg, Møre og Romsdal, Norway in 1963. She was youngest of five children. Her father worked as a carpenter. And her mother was mainly responsible for caring the small farm they owned. A self-proclaimed “tom-boy,” May-Britt was born into a family without excess money. With her free time, she chose to study animals where she found a major passion. May-Britt’s mother told her fairy tales while she was growing up and always encouraged her to work hard to make her dreams come true. As a child, May-Britt wanted to become a doctor who travelled the world saving people, or even a veterinarian due to her love of animals. She was never a particularly gifted student in grade school, but the right level of encouragement from her teachers saw her talents flourish.
Education – after completing schooling from her home town, she joined University of Oslo. Journey at the University of Oslo led to a dynamic exploration of academic paths. Opting for psychology, Britt and Edvard’s shared interest in understanding the brain. Despite encouragement to study social psychology, her eagerness remained focused on unravelling the mysteries of the brain, shaping an academic trajectory.
Achievements
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Discovery of Grid Cells:
One of Moser’s most ground-breaking achievements is the discovery of grid cells in the entorhinal cortex of the brain. This finding, made in collaboration with Edvard Moser and John O’Keefe, was a major breakthrough in understanding how the brain processes spatial information.
Grid cells are neurons that fire in a hexagonal pattern as an organism moves through space, providing a remarkable mechanism for the brain to create mental maps of its surroundings.
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2014):
Moser, along with Edvard Moser and John O’Keefe, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2014 for their ground-breaking work on the brain’s positioning system. The Nobel Committee recognized their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain and the brain’s inner GPS.
Contributions to Spatial Cognition:
Moser’s research has significantly contributed to our understanding of spatial cognition, including how the brain processes and represents spatial information. This knowledge has implications not only for navigation but also for understanding disorders related to spatial memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Establishment of Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience:
Britt Moser played a crucial role in the establishment of the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The institute serves as a hub for cutting-edge neuroscience research and facilitates collaboration among scientists to explore the complexities of the brain.
Academic Leadership and Mentorship:
As a professor at NTNU, Moser has been a dedicated mentor and educator, inspiring the next generation of neuroscientists. Her leadership in academic settings has fostered an environment conducive to ground-breaking research and innovation in the field.
International Recognition and Collaborations:
Moser’s work has gained international acclaim, and she has been involved in collaborations with renowned scientists and institutions worldwide. Her contributions have helped shape the global landscape of neuroscience research.