Jean-Pierre Changeux

1936 -

country of citizenship: France

languages spoken, written or signed: French

educated at: École Normale Supérieure, Science Faculty of Paris, Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, Pasteur Institute

occupation: neuroscientist, geneticist, professor, neurologist, biologist, university teacher

award received: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎, CNRS Gold medal, Wolf Prize in Medicine, Balzan Prize, Canada Gairdner International Award, Broquette-Gonin prize, Max Delbrück Medal, NAS Award in the Neurosciences, Karl Spencer Lashley Award, Jean-Louis Signoret Prize, Neuronal Plasticity Prize, Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Neuroscience Research, Novartis-Drew Award, Golden Eurydice Award, Richard Lounsbery Award, Sir Hans Krebs Medal, Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine, Alexandre Joannidès prize, Robert J. and Claire Pasarow Foundation Award for Distinguished Contributions to Neuropsychiatric Research, Honorary doctorate from the University of Geneva, Honorary doctor of the University of Liège, honorary doctor of the Ohio State University, honorary doctor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, honorary doctor of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, honorary doctor of Stockholm University, Premio Herlitzka, Olav Thon Foundation’s International Research Award

position held: president

official website: www.college-de-france.fr/site/jean-pierre-changeux/biographie.htm

Jean-Pierre Changeux (French: [ʃɑ̃ʒø]; born 6 April 1936) is a French neuroscientist known for his research in several fields of biology, from the structure and function of proteins (with a focus on the allosteric proteins), to the early development of the nervous system up to cognitive functions. Although being famous in biological sciences for the MWC model, the identification and purification of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the theory of epigenesis by synapse selection are also notable scientific achievements. Changeux is known by the non-scientific public for his ideas regarding the connection between mind and physical brain. As put forth in his book, Conversations on Mind, Matter and Mathematics, Changeux strongly supports the view that the nervous system functions in a projective rather than reactive style and that interaction with the environment, rather than being instructive, results in the selection amongst a diversity of preexisting internal representations. Source: Wikipedia (en)