Professor Jeffery’s research centres upon how information is represented in the brain, and particularly the ways in which we are able to process spatial cognition, such as how we find our way around, know where we are and remember our experiences. During her talk, entitled ‘Unravelling the map in the brain’, Professor Jeffery vividly explained, for both scientists and non-scientists alike, how one area of the brain, namely the hippocampus, is particularly important in spatial memory and central to navigation. She described how neuroscientists and psychologists over the past century have discovered that animals, including humans, have an internal ‘map’ of space, located deep in the brain. She also told us that the hippocampus is one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage in Alzheimer’s disease, leading to memory loss and disorientation. In contrast, individuals who rely on an excellent spatial memory, such as taxi drivers, have enlarged hippocampi. With further research and a greater understanding of the workings of this map in the brain, scientists are getting closer to understanding memory and we hope that the next step will lead to better treatments for those suffering from memory disorders.
Professor Jeffery’s talk was truly stimulating. The girls were enthralled by her presentation, prompting them to ask numerous perceptive questions and inspiring them to consider a scientific career in the future.