Head direction cells

Imagine you are playing outside and you want to go home. You know the way because you remember which direction to go: turn left at the corner, then go straight ahead. But how do you know which way is left, right, straight or behind you? That's where your "head direction cells" come in!

Inside your brain, there are special cells that keep track of which way your head is facing. Just like a compass helps you find north, these head direction cells help you find your way by keeping track of which direction you are facing.

These cells work by detecting signals from the inner ear, which give information about the position of your head. As you move around, the head direction cells update their "map" of your surroundings so that they always know which direction you are facing.

This is really important for your brain, because it helps you navigate your environment and remember where things are. Without head direction cells, you might get lost, forget where you have been, or even walk in circles!

So, next time you find your way home, you can thank your head direction cells for keeping you on track!