TIL about 'grid cells', neurons which constitute the brain's in-built positioning system, allowing us and many other animals to navigate Euclidean space (they earned their discoverers a Nobel Prize)
TIL about 'grid cells', neurons which constitute the brain's in-built positioning system, allowing us and many other animals to navigate Euclidean space (they earned their discoverers a Nobel Prize)
I'm thinking I got a couple copies of the dna that makes these, and a dna gap of whatever was supposed to be next in line. My virtual copy of the world around me is detailed down to the milimeter, which, according to everyone else I know, is "not normal". Comes in real handy when parking a car in a tight spot or cluttered garage. Or navigating a crowd while reading a book. But I definitely suck to a similar degree at lots of other things, lol.
My particular gaps and duplicates worked out to still be kind of useful, but I work with alot of people who got a different result from their grab bag of assorted dna sequencing mishaps. My job is basically to make sure they can still enjoy as many aspects of their life as possible, and luckily, that is pretty enjoyable for me.
I'm the same way except the space variables grow or shrink with time. The more I've been away from a certain place, the less I can recall the volume of the space. But as for object reference and positioning I could thread a needle into a reset button onto a TV remote blindfolded.
Ah, now I know what I'm lacking, thanks to gps for saving me
I've always called it "map brain," and am fascinated to watch people who don't have that ability.
For example, my husband has been to the library and he has been to the grocery store. From home, he can get to either without any trouble. But if he's at the grocery store and needs to go to the library? He'll need to go home first. He just can't visualize the steps if it's a new path. He's a brilliant guy, but he has a foggy brain map.
I'm pretty much the opposite, but what I love about GPS is that they'll tell you which lane is optimal for the next exit. If it's a new route, that's super helpful.
Mine's even slightly weirder - I'm trash at navigation in a car, on streets. Even if it's somewhere I've been a bunch, once GPS became commonplace that part of my brain seems to have basically switched off or decayed somehow.
But outside, backpacking or even less demanding stuff, I have a great sense of direction. Plenty of successful solo trips, etc., very rarely feel turned around or confused. There's probably a contribution caused by the differing level of effort, but it's hard to put into words how my subconscious automatically provides a ton of help in the latter situation and zero in the former.
I wonder if he has aphantasia
Fascinating, my GF and I are the same way. I have no idea which way is north, I have no idea which way I'm driving, while she can get around without GPS, even to new places.
I get around by memorizing the steps, left here, right there, etc. Daily commutes seem to happen automatically, there are days where I get to work and have no memory of the drive. Also feels like driving vs navigating is a completely different skillset, I've never been in an accident after 25+ years of driving, despite many close calls having to dodge other cars.
I have always had a very good map of my surroundings in mind. I'm pretty sure it applies in the water. Once during some water rescue training they had a class where they gave us opaque googles and spun us in the water so we could experience what it would be like in dark murky water with no sight reference. No matter what they did the second they let go of me I shot straight for the surface. It really bothered the instructor that I could do that. He wasn't really happy with my beating his best time underwater on one breath contest by two minutes. He shouldn't have bragged beforehand then everyone wouldn't have known.
I don't think mine work