Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
New research at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain is taking a leap forward in understanding how the brain — down to the individual neuron — navigates us through the world to find what we need.
Jack Lin, the study’s principal investigator, is a professor and neurologist who directs the UC Davis Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Lin works with patients like Travis Rouse. Rouse came all the way from his home in Shasta County to help push this brain science forward. He has epilepsy, and a RNS system implanted into his brain senses when a seizure is coming and sends electrical signals to head it off.
The RNS system collects detailed data on brain activity. Complemented with GPS location data and eye tracking, the research team can record unprecedented information on how Travis navigates the Center for Mind and Brain halls looking for where had had just seen a banana facing an extended tape measure or scissors facing blueberries.
When the team analyze the data, they’ll be able to see which individual neurons activated as Travis thought through where he wanted to go and also how his brain got him there.
New research at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain is taking a leap forward in understanding how the brain — down to the individual neuron — navigates us through the world to find what we need.
Jack Lin, the study’s principal investigator, is a professor and neurologist who directs the UC Davis Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Lin works with patients like Travis Rouse. Rouse came all the way from his home in Shasta County to help push this brain science forward. He has epilepsy, and a RNS system implanted into his brain senses when a seizure is coming and sends electrical signals to head it off.
The RNS system collects detailed data on brain activity. Complemented with GPS location data and eye tracking, the research team can record unprecedented information on how Travis navigates the Center for Mind and Brain halls looking for where had had just seen a banana facing an extended tape measure or scissors facing blueberries.
When the team analyze the data, they’ll be able to see which individual neurons activated as Travis thought through where he wanted to go and also how his brain got him there.
