Meanings
noungrandmother cell (plural grandmother cells)
plural grandmother cells
- A hypothetical neuron that represents a complex but specific concept or object, and activates upon recognition.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Coined around 1969 by Jerry Lettvin, referring to the idea of recognising one's grandmother.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
grandmother cell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grandmother%20cell
MLA
“grandmother cell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grandmother%20cell. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grandmother cell,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grandmother%20cell.
Source: grandmother cell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.