Final answer:
Place cells are specialized neurons in the Hippocampus that enable navigation by forming a cognitive map of the environment, becoming active when an animal is in a particular location and responding to environmental cues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Place cells are a type of neuron found in the Hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory and navigation. These cells help animals, including humans, navigate their environment by encoding spatial information about the surroundings. When an animal is in a particular location, specific place cells associated with that location become active. This activity pattern forms a cognitive map within the brain, allowing the animal to recognize where it is and to navigate to new locations.
Place cells work by responding to various environmental cues, such as landmarks or changes in the environment. It's thought that each place cell represents a specific area within the environment, and together, they create a comprehensive map of the area. This intricate mapping system enables animals to orient themselves and to remember the locations of important resources like food, water, or shelter.
These unique neurons illustrate the incredible specialization of cell function within the human body, and their study has important implications for understanding how memory and spatial navigation work at the cellular level.