Sir Charles Sherrington
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1932)
Biography
Sir Charles Scott Sherrington (1857-1952) was a British neurophysiologist who made groundbreaking research contributions that shaped the modern understanding of the nervous system. Born in London on November 27, 1857, he was educated at Ipswich School, Fitzwilliam College, and later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He completed his medical training at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School and continued his studies at the University of Oxford, where he later held teaching positions.
Sherrington's experiments laid the groundwork for many key ideas in neuroscience. His research showed that the spinal reflex is a coordinated system involving interconnected neurons, which supported what became known as the neuron doctrine. He studied how signals between neurons could be strengthened or weakened and coined the term 'synapse' for the connection point between two neurons. His detailed studies uncovered the complex ways the nervous system integrates and processes information.
He published his comprehensive research in 1906 as 'The Integrative Action of the Nervous System,' a key text in the field. This work brought him international recognition and helped him win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932, which he shared with Edgar Adrian. Beyond neuroscience, Sherrington also did important work in histology, bacteriology, and pathology, showing his wide range of scientific interests.
Throughout his career, Sherrington held important academic positions and received many awards. He was president of the Royal Society in the early 1920s and received several medals, including the Croonian Medal (1897), Royal Medal (1905), and Copley Medal (1927). He got honorary doctorates from the University of Strasbourg (1927) and University of Paris (1928) and was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. Sherrington died in Eastbourne on March 4, 1952, leaving a lasting impact on the understanding of the nervous system.
Before Fame
Sherrington grew up during a time when biological sciences were advancing quickly in the Victorian era. The late 19th century saw major progress in microscopy, experimental physiology, and the new field of neuroscience. He studied at Cambridge and received medical training at St Thomas's Hospital when the scientific method was being rigorously used to understand biological systems.
His rise to prominence began with his early research into the nervous system at a time when neural communication was still largely unknown. His work expanded on earlier discoveries by scientists like Santiago Ramón y Cajal, who had proposed that the nervous system consisted of individual cells rather than a continuous network. Sherrington's experimental approach and exact methods allowed him to show how these individual neurons worked together as a system.
Key Achievements
- Coined the term 'synapse' and established the concept of synaptic transmission
- Developed the neuron doctrine showing the nervous system as interconnected individual cells
- Published 'The Integrative Action of the Nervous System' (1906), a foundational neuroscience text
- Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932 for discoveries regarding neuron function
- Served as President of the Royal Society and received the Copley Medal, the society's highest honor
Did You Know?
- 01.Sherrington coined the term 'synapse' from the Greek word meaning 'to clasp together'
- 02.He served as a pathologist investigating cholera outbreaks in Spain and Italy during the 1880s
- 03.Sherrington was also a published poet, releasing a volume titled 'The Assaying of Brabantius and Other Verse' in 1925
- 04.He conducted early research on the knee-jerk reflex using himself as a test subject
- 05.Despite his focus on physiology, Sherrington initially studied classics and philosophy before turning to medicine
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1932 | for their discoveries regarding the functions of neurons |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire | — | — |
| Order of Merit | — | — |
| Croonian Medal and Lecture | 1897 | — |
| Baly Medal | 1899 | — |
| Silliman Memorial Lectures | 1904 | — |
| Royal Medal | 1905 | — |
| Copley Medal | 1927 | — |
| honorary doctorate from the University of Strasbourg | 1927 | — |
| doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris | 1928 | — |
| doctor honoris causa from the University of Lyon | 1946 | — |