May-Britt Moser

May-Britt Moser – Life, Research, and Inspiring Quotes

May-Britt Moser is a Norwegian psychologist and neuroscientist, co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking work on grid cells. Explore her biography, research achievements, key quotes, and lessons from her life.

Introduction

May-Britt Moser (born January 4, 1963) is a distinguished Norwegian psychologist and neuroscientist whose work has reshaped our understanding of how the brain represents space. Along with her then-husband Edvard Moser and John O’Keefe, she was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of grid cells—neurons that function as a mental coordinate system for navigation. Her career stands as a model of curiosity, collaboration, and scientific excellence.

Early Life and Family

May-Britt Andreassen (later Moser) was born on January 4, 1963, in Fosnavåg, a small coastal town in Møre og Romsdal, Norway.

In her youth, she was often outdoors, observing animals and nature—activities that nurtured her early scientific curiosity.

Her mother reportedly encouraged her academic performance strongly—insisting she get good grades to ensure she would have options beyond traditional roles.

Youth, Education & Formative Years

Moser studied psychology, mathematics, and neurobiology at the University of Oslo.

In 1995, she was awarded a PhD in neurophysiology under the supervision of Per Andersen.

In 1996, the Mosers returned to Norway and joined the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, with May-Britt becoming associate professor in biological psychology.

Over time, she also helped establish research centers such as the Centre for the Biology of Memory (CBM) and later the Centre for Neural Computation.

Research, Achievements & Contributions

Discovery of Grid Cells & Spatial Representation

May-Britt Moser’s most celebrated contribution lies in the discovery of grid cells—a type of neuron in the entorhinal cortex that activates in a periodic, grid-like pattern as an animal moves through space. These cells, together with “place cells” in the hippocampus, form the neural basis for an internal cognitive map.

Her group, often in collaboration with Edvard Moser, uncovered additional spatially tuned neurons (e.g. boundary cells), and investigated how the grid cell network is organized and how it interacts with memory circuits.

These findings provided a mechanistic understanding of how brains encode position, direction, and spatial memory—and had implications for diseases that affect memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Honors & Recognition

• In 2014, May-Britt Moser shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Edvard Moser and John O’Keefe for “discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain.”

• She received numerous other awards, such as the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2011)

• She is a member of several academies, including the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences.

• She has served leadership roles in major research initiatives, including directing neural computation research centers at NTNU.

Historical & Scientific Context

• Her work came at a time when neuroscience was increasingly focusing on how circuits, rather than just brain regions, underlie cognition.

• Building on the earlier discovery of “place cells” by John O’Keefe, Moser’s contributions helped fill the gap between place coding and spatial mapping.

• The discoveries of grid cells opened new directions in systems neuroscience—linking behavior (navigation, memory) with neuron-level coding.

• Her work also intersects with clinical neuroscience, especially for understanding spatial memory deficits in aging and neurodegeneration.

Legacy and Influence

May-Britt Moser’s legacy lies in bridging psychology, physiology, and systems neuroscience. She showed how carefully designed experiments and theoretical insight can reveal how abstract cognitive processes (like navigation) have concrete neural underpinnings.

She has inspired generations of neuroscientists—especially women in STEM—by demonstrating rigorous, collaborative, creative science.

Her leadership in building institutions (CBM, neural computation centers) ensures that her impact continues through the work of her students and collaborators.

Personality, Approach & Style

Moser is known for precision, perseverance, and a deeply collaborative mindset. She views science as a quest for understanding, not for accolades.

She has spoken about how being trained tough and having resilience shaped her scientific identity.

Her style emphasizes respect for detail:

“A good designer has a lot in common with a good researcher. Both hunt for excellence and perfection. And you have to really focus on the details, and you don’t really know what the final result will be before you have it.”

She also values encouraging curiosity, especially in children and learners:

“All children are born with stars in their eyes, and they are curious. It is important for teachers to be careful not to kill this curiosity.”

In many quotes, she speaks of balancing rigor with humility, and acknowledges imperfection in herself (e.g. joking about her frontal lobe or habits).

Notable Quotes by May-Britt Moser

Here are several memorable quotations attributed to her:

• “A good designer has a lot in common with a good researcher. Both hunt for excellence and perfection. And you have to really focus on the details, and you don’t really know what the final result will be before you have it.”

• “All children are born with stars in their eyes, and they are curious. It is important for teachers to be careful not to kill this curiosity.”

• “Children need teachers who have stars in their eyes themselves and who treat them with respect.”

• “I was trained to be very tough. My mom told me I shouldn’t cry; I shouldn’t be afraid of anything.”

• “Whenever I have given lectures to a large audience before, I have always looked for an ending that gives a ‘wow’ feeling.”

• “Some women choose to stay at home and be housewives. If they are happy with it, then it’s a wonderful choice. But I know I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t be a housewife.”

• “I don’t think about being male or female, I just behave naturally. I think in terms of excellence in science, not gender.”

Lessons from May-Britt Moser’s Life

1. Let curiosity lead.
   Her early fascination with nature and exploration laid the groundwork for her scientific path.

2. Persevere through uncertainty.
   Many of her discoveries emerged not from knowing the answer in advance but through sustained inquiry and iteration.

3. Blend collaboration with independence.
   Her close work with Edvard Moser shows how partnership can amplify scientific progress while respecting individual contributions.

4. Value detail and patience.
   Her emphasis on “focusing on details” illustrates that breakthroughs often emerge incrementally.

5. Encourage wonder in others.
   Through her advocacy for nurturing curiosity in children and learners, she reminds us that science is not merely acquiring facts but fostering creativity.

6. Integrate roles with integrity.
   She balanced roles as scientist, leader, mentor, and public figure, all while staying grounded in the mission of understanding the brain.

Conclusion

May-Britt Moser stands as one of the leading neuroscientists of our time. Her work opened a new window on how the brain maps space, bridging psychology, neurophysiology, and systems neuroscience. But beyond her scientific impact, her life teaches us about curiosity, rigor, persistence, and generosity of spirit.

Her journey from a small town in Norway to the Nobel stage underscores the power of asking questions—and remaining open to where they lead.

If you'd like, I can also prepare a Top 10 May-Britt Moser Quotes list or a timeline of her scientific discoveries. Would you like me to do that?