John Eccles

John Eccles

John Eccles in his laboratory

Born	(1903-01-27)27 January 1903
Birth place	Melbourne, Australia
Died	2 May 1997(1997-05-02) (aged 94)
Place of death	Locarno, Switzerland
Nationality	Australian
Known for	Synaptic transmission
Awards	Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1963)

Sir John Carew Eccles (27 January 1903 – 2 May 1997) was an Australian neurophysiologist and philosopher who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1963 for his pioneering work on synaptic transmission. His research significantly advanced the understanding of how neurons communicate with each other, which is fundamental to the field of neuroscience.

Early Life and Education

John Eccles was born in Melbourne, Australia, and showed an early interest in science. He attended the University of Melbourne, where he studied medicine and developed a keen interest in the workings of the human brain. Eccles was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford, where he worked under the supervision of Charles Sherrington, a prominent figure in the study of the nervous system.

Research and Contributions

Eccles's most notable contributions to neuroscience were in the area of synaptic transmission. He conducted groundbreaking experiments that demonstrated how nerve cells communicate with each other through synapses. His work provided evidence for the chemical nature of synaptic transmission, which was a significant advancement over the previously held belief in purely electrical transmission.

Synaptic Transmission

Eccles's research involved the use of microelectrodes to record electrical activity in neurons. He was able to show that synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synaptic cleft from one neuron to another. This work laid the foundation for modern neuropharmacology and our understanding of how drugs can affect the nervous system.

Nobel Prize

In 1963, John Eccles was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with Alan Lloyd Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley, for their discoveries concerning the ionic mechanisms involved in excitation and inhibition in the peripheral and central portions of the nerve cell membrane. Eccles's work on synaptic transmission was a crucial part of this research.

Later Life and Philosophy

In addition to his scientific work, Eccles was also interested in the philosophical implications of neuroscience. He wrote extensively on the mind-body problem and the nature of consciousness, arguing for a dualist perspective that posits the existence of both physical and non-physical aspects of the mind.

Legacy

John Eccles's work has had a lasting impact on the field of neuroscience. His discoveries about synaptic transmission have influenced countless researchers and have been fundamental to the development of treatments for neurological disorders. Eccles's philosophical writings continue to provoke discussion and debate in the fields of philosophy of mind and cognitive science.

Also see

• Neuroscience
• Synapse
• Neurotransmitter
• Charles Sherrington
• Alan Lloyd Hodgkin
• Andrew Huxley