Emil du Bois-Reymond established the field of experimental electrophysiology through his rigorous investigation into animal electricity, culminating in his extensive multi-volume work, Investigations of Animal Electricity. Born in Berlin in 1818, he spent his career within the Kingdom of Prussia, eventually becoming a pivotal figure in the advancement of physiological sciences at the University of Berlin.
Academic Formation and Early Research
After attending the Französisches Gymnasium Berlin, du Bois-Reymond enrolled at the University of Bonn and later Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He initially explored diverse subjects including history, geology, and physics before focusing on medicine. His trajectory shifted significantly in 1840 when he became an assistant to Johannes Peter Müller. Influenced by Carlo Matteucci’s research on electric phenomena in animals, he centered his doctoral thesis on electric fishes, initiating a lifelong study of bioelectricity.
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The core of his scientific output, Investigations of Animal Electricity, was published in segments between 1848 and 1884. He proposed a theoretical framework suggesting that living tissues, such as muscles, functioned through the activity of electric molecules. While subsequent researchers like Julius Bernstein later refined these ideas into a modern ionic model, du Bois-Reymond’s work provided the necessary experimental methods and instruments for analyzing biological electric activity. His findings gained early support from Alexander von Humboldt, who publicized the ability to influence magnetic needles through human-induced electric currents.
Institutional Influence and Professional Life
In 1855, du Bois-Reymond assumed a teaching role at Frederick William University Berlin, and following the death of Johannes Müller in 1858, he took the professorship of physiology. His career was marked by academic service, including his role as perpetual secretary of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences starting in 1876. He also served at the Academy of Arts, Berlin, starting in 1849. Despite early research conducted in substandard facilities, he eventually secured funding for a modern physiological laboratory in 1877.
Recognition and Legacy
Throughout his life, du Bois-Reymond received numerous distinctions, including the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts in 1877 and the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 1873. He held honorary memberships in institutions ranging from the Royal Society to the Russian Academy of Sciences. He died in Berlin in 1896 and was interred at the Französischer Friedhof, leaving a legacy as both a dedicated physiologist and a prominent educator of the 19th century.
Fast facts
- Born: 1818, Berlin
- Died: 1896, Berlin
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia
- Major Work: Investigations of Animal Electricity
- Academic Home: Frederick William University Berlin
- Helmholtz Medal: 1892
- Foreign Member of the Royal Society: 1877
- Burial Site: Französischer Friedhof
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of his scientific research?
He focused on electrophysiology and physiology, specifically investigating the electrical phenomena present in living organisms like muscles and electric fishes.
Did he hold significant academic positions?
Yes, he was a professor at Frederick William University Berlin and served as the perpetual secretary of the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences.
Achievements
- Helmholtz Medal — 1892
- Held posts at Frederick William University Berlin and Academy of Arts, Berlin
- Fields: electrophysiology and physiology
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