Scientists Map Brain’s 'Mileage Clock' for Distance Tracking

7 DAYS AGO·UPDATED 7 DAYS AGO

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Above: A doctor looking at an MRI scanner monitor. Image copyright: Monty Rakusen/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

This breakthrough explains why navigation often fails in poor visibility. The brain relies on an internal "mileage clock," a rhythmic firing of grid cells that acts like a biological odometer. When visual cues vanish in fog or darkness, that signal becomes irregular, causing people to misjudge distance. Tests in both rats and humans reveal the same underlying system, showing a shared mechanism for spatial navigation across species.

University of St. Andrews

Narrative B

The discovery of the brain’s mileage clock may transform Alzheimer’s detection. Grid cells in the medial entorhinal cortex, among the first regions affected, fire in regular patterns that allow accurate distance estimation. When this signal is disrupted, errors emerge, offering a potential early marker of disease. Researchers say navigation-based tasks could serve as “early warning” tests, opening new pathways for diagnosis and future treatment strategies.

Independent The Local Report