grandmother cell

Questions

What does grandmother cell mean?

A hypothetical neuron that represents a complex but specific concept or object, and activates upon recognition.

Where does grandmother cell come from?

Coined around 1969 by Jerry Lettvin, referring to the idea of recognising one's grandmother.

How to pronounce grandmother cell

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “grandmother cell”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “grandmother cell”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “grandmother cell” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.