John A. O'Keefe

John A. O'Keefe is a neuroscientist known for discovering how the brain creates a mental map of the environment, known as "place cells." These specialized neurons in the hippocampus activate when an individual is in or thinking about a specific location, helping with navigation and spatial memory. His work has significantly advanced understanding of the brain's role in spatial awareness and memory formation. In recognition of these discoveries, O'Keefe was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser.