# Edvard Moser

> Norwegian psychologist and neuroscientist

**Wikidata**: [Q5341373](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5341373)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Moser)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/edvard-moser

## Summary
Edvard Moser is a Norwegian psychologist and neuroscientist recognized for his foundational research in the field of neuroscience. He is best known for his discovery of grid cells in the hippocampus, a breakthrough that has significantly advanced the scientific understanding of the brain's spatial navigation and memory systems.

## Biography
- **Born**: April 27, 1962
- **Nationality**: Norway
- **Education**: University of Oslo, University of Edinburgh
- **Known for**: Discovering grid cells in the hippocampus, contributing to the understanding of spatial navigation.
- **Employer(s)**: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), University of Oslo, Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience / Centre For Neural Computation.
- **Field(s)**: Neuroscience, Psychology

## Contributions
Edvard Moser has made significant contributions to the understanding of the nervous system, particularly in the area of spatial navigation. His most cited work involves the discovery of grid cells, which are neurons in the brain that generate a coordinate system for spatial mapping. This discovery provided a critical piece to the puzzle of how the brain encodes space and memory, complementing the earlier discovery of place cells. His research is conducted primarily through the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at NTNU, where he has helped establish a research environment often referred to as "Moser-miljøet." This work bridges the disciplines of psychology and neurobiology, offering insights into cognitive processes and potential treatments for neurological conditions.

## FAQs
**What is Edvard Moser's primary area of research?**
Edvard Moser specializes in neuroscience, specifically focusing on the neural mechanisms of spatial navigation and memory. His work has been instrumental in mapping how the brain represents physical space.

**Which institutions is Edvard Moser affiliated with?**
He is affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Oslo. He also plays a key role at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience / Centre For Neural Computation.

**What major awards has Edvard Moser received?**
Moser has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine, and the Körber European Science Prize.

**What is the significance of Edvard Moser's discovery of grid cells?**
The discovery of grid cells revealed the brain's internal coordinate system, explaining how animals and humans navigate their environment. This finding has been pivotal for understanding cognitive functions like memory and planning.

## Why They Matter
Edvard Moser's work matters because it fundamentally altered the understanding of how the brain processes spatial information. Before his discoveries, the neural basis of spatial navigation was incomplete; his identification of grid cells provided the missing metric system that the brain uses to map the environment. This has had a ripple effect across multiple disciplines, influencing psychology, neurobiology, and cognitive science. His research at the Kavli Institute has positioned Norway as a leader in systems neuroscience, fostering a research environment that continues to push the boundaries of knowledge regarding the nervous system. The implications of his work extend to understanding and potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases that affect spatial memory, such as Alzheimer's.

## Notable For
- **Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine**: Awarded for his discoveries concerning the brain's positioning system.
- **Discovery of Grid Cells**: Identified the brain's coordinate system for spatial navigation.
- **Kavli Institute Leadership**: Key figure at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at NTNU.
- **Interdisciplinary Impact**: Bridged psychology and neuroscience to explain behavior and mental processes.
- **Global Recognition**: Recipient of the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize and the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine.
- **Academic Memberships**: Member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the National Academy of Sciences (USA), and Academia Europaea.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Edvard Ingjald Moser was born on April 27, 1962. He pursued his higher education in Norway and the United Kingdom. He studied at the University of Oslo, a major public research university in Norway established in 1811. He also attended the University of Edinburgh, a public university in Scotland founded in 1583. His academic background laid the groundwork for his career in psychology and neuroscience.

### Academic Career and Affiliations
Moser has held significant positions at leading Norwegian institutions. He is associated with the University of Oslo and has been a central figure at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. NTNU, established in 1996, is Norway's largest university, known for its focus on science and technology. Within NTNU, Moser has been affiliated with the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience / Centre For Neural Computation. This research center, founded in 1996, is dedicated to understanding neural systems and is often referred to as the "Moser research environment" (Moser-miljøet).

His professional roles are identified as a psychologist, neuroscientist, researcher, and university teacher. These roles reflect his dual contribution to both the scientific discovery and the academic training of future researchers.

### Research and Discoveries
Moser's primary field of work is neuroscience, the scientific study of the nervous system. His most notable contribution is the discovery of grid cells. These neurons are essential for spatial representation, firing in a hexagonal pattern that creates a coordinate system in the brain. This discovery solved a long-standing question in neuroscience about how the brain calculates position and distance, building upon the earlier work on place cells by John O'Keefe.

His research is deeply rooted in the study of behavior and mental processes, aligning with his background in psychology. By combining psychological inquiry with neuroscientific methods, he has helped map the biological basis of navigation and memory.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, Moser has received extensive recognition for his scientific achievements. His awards include:
- **Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine**: One of the most prestigious global awards in science.
- **Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize**: An annual prize awarded by Columbia University.
- **Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine**: A Swiss award recognizing significant contributions to medicine.
- **Körber European Science Prize**: A German science award.
- **Karl Spencer Lashley Award**: An American award in behavioral neuroscience.
- **W. Alden Spencer Award**: A science award established in 1978.
- **Perl-UNC Prize**: A prize awarded in the United States.
- **Eric K. Fernströms Nordiska Pris**: A significant Nordic prize.
- **Årets trønder**: A regional Norwegian award established in 2010, recognizing individuals from Trøndelag for their contributions to society.

### Professional Memberships
Moser is a member of several prestigious academies, reflecting his standing in the global scientific community:
- **Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters**: An academy of sciences founded in 1857.
- **Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences**: A national academy established in 1955.
- **National Academy of Sciences**: The science branch of the United States National Academies.
- **Academia Europaea**: A pan-European academy founded in 1988.
- **Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters**: An academy of sciences established in 1760.
- **German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina**: The national academy of Germany.

### Digital and Technical Identifiers
Moser's work and identity are cataloged in numerous databases and registries, underscoring his global academic footprint. Key identifiers include:
- **Wikidata**: Q888424
- **ISNI**: 0000000352593015
- **VIAF**: 87145970075732250847
- **GND**: 1219889636
- **ORCID**: 0000-0003-0226-5566
- **Library of Congress**: n 2009006765
- **IMDb**: nm4716103
- **Freebase**: /m/064ntvk
- **Google Knowledge Graph**: /g/121y50jx (associated with his awards and recognition).

His research environment, the Kavli Institute, is located in Norway at coordinates 63.4207, 10.3925, and maintains a digital presence at http://www.ntnu.edu/kavli.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.ntnu.edu/employees/edvard.moser)
2. [Source](http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2014/)
3. [Source](https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/about/amounts/)
4. [Source](https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/research/louisa-gross-horwitz-prize/horwitz-prize-awardees)
5. [Source](https://www.amphilsoc.org/prizes/karl-spencer-lashley-award)
6. [Source](https://www.med.lu.se/eric_k_fernstroems_stiftelse/fernstroemspriserna/nordiska_priset)
7. [Source](https://www.jeantet.ch/en/prix-louis-jeantet/laureats/2011-en/professeurs-edvard-et-may-britt-moser/)
8. [Source](https://www.aaas.org/fellows/historic?field_last_name_value=All&field_year_elected=2010&page=12)
9. [Source](https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Moser%2C+Edvard+Ingjald&type=&aarstall=)
10. International Standard Name Identifier
11. www.ae-info.org
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
14. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia
15. Munzinger Personen
16. YouTube
17. Quora