Per Andersen

Per Andersen

Per Oskar Andersen (1930–2020) was a renowned Norwegian neuroscientist known for his pioneering work in the field of neuroscience, particularly in the study of the hippocampus and synaptic plasticity. His research significantly contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying learning and memory.

Early Life and Education

Per Andersen was born on March 12, 1930, in Oslo, Norway. He pursued his medical studies at the University of Oslo, where he developed a keen interest in the workings of the brain. Andersen completed his medical degree in 1956 and subsequently earned his Ph.D. in 1960, focusing on neurophysiology.

Academic Career

Andersen began his academic career at the University of Oslo, where he was appointed as a professor of physiology. His early work involved studying the electrical properties of neurons in the hippocampus, a region of the brain critical for memory formation. Andersen's research was instrumental in elucidating the concept of long-term potentiation (LTP), a process that strengthens synaptic connections and is considered a cellular mechanism for learning and memory.

Contributions to Neuroscience

Per Andersen's most notable contribution to neuroscience is his work on LTP. In the 1960s, Andersen and his colleagues demonstrated that repeated stimulation of synapses in the hippocampus could lead to a long-lasting increase in synaptic strength. This discovery provided a physiological basis for understanding how experiences can lead to lasting changes in the brain, a fundamental aspect of learning and memory.

Andersen's research also explored the role of neurotransmitters and receptors in synaptic plasticity. He investigated the involvement of glutamate receptors in LTP and how changes in receptor activity could affect synaptic strength.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Per Andersen received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to neuroscience. He was elected a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and received the Anders Jahre Medical Prize for his groundbreaking research.

Legacy

Per Andersen's work laid the foundation for much of the current understanding of synaptic plasticity and its role in learning and memory. His research has influenced countless studies and continues to be a cornerstone in the field of neuroscience.

Also see

• Hippocampus
• Long-term potentiation
• Synaptic plasticity
• Neurotransmitter
• Glutamate receptor