The discovery of grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex in 2005 provided the first concrete metric for how the brain processes space. May-Britt Moser, a Norwegian neuroscientist, spearheaded this research alongside Edvard Moser. Their findings identified the specialized neurons that function as a coordinate system for spatial navigation, a breakthrough that earned them the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Academic Foundation
Born in 1963 in Fosnavåg, Moser pursued diverse scientific interests including psychology, physics, mathematics, and neurobiology at the University of Oslo. She completed her Candidate of Psychology degree in 1990 and earned a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology in 1995. Her training expanded through postdoctoral work at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Neuroscience and laboratory experience at University College London.
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In 1996, Moser and Edvard Moser established their research unit at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She attained the position of professor in 2000. Throughout her career, she has directed several major research bodies, including the Centre for the Biology of Memory and the Centre for Neural Computation. Since 2023, she has headed the Centre for Algorithms in the Cortex.
Neural Mapping and Computation
Moser's laboratory focuses on the hippocampal-entorhinal system. Following the 2005 identification of grid cells, her team discovered border cells in 2008 and speed cells in 2015. More recent work utilizes advanced imaging technology, such as the Mini2P miniature two-photon microscope and Neuropixels, to record the activity of thousands of neurons simultaneously. This research aims to understand how cognitive representations emerge from collective neuronal dynamics.
Professional Recognition
Moser maintains memberships in numerous international academic organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. She was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in 2023. Her awards include the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, the W. Alden Spencer Award, and the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Fosnavåg, Norway
- Field: Neuroscience and Psychology
- Nobel Prize: Physiology or Medicine, 2014
- Academic Degree: Candidate of Psychology, University of Oslo
- Current Position: Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Key Discovery: Grid cells, 2005
- Notable Recognition: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav, 2018
Questions readers ask
What is the primary function of grid cells?
Grid cells are specialized neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex that act as a coordinate system and metric for space, allowing the brain to map location.
Does May-Britt Moser continue to work with Edvard Moser?
Yes, although the couple announced their divorce in 2016, they continue their scientific collaboration at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 2014
- Held posts at Norwegian University of Science and Technology and University of Oslo
- Educated at University of Edinburgh and University of Oslo
- Fields of research: grid neuron and neuroscience