Adrian, Edgar Douglas

Born Nov. 30, 1889, in London; died there Aug. 4, 1977. English physiologist. Fellow of the Royal Society of London (from 1923; president, 1950–55). Student of K. Lucas.

Adrian graduated from Cambridge University in 1915 and then lectured on physiology at Trinity College, where he became a professor in 1937; beginning in 1951 he was master of Trinity College. Adrian’s research was primarily devoted to the electrophysiology of the sense organs and nerve conductors. Adrian, a brilliant experimenter, was a pioneer in the use of electronics in physiological research. He was the first to perform experiments on individual nerve fibers and nerve endings. His research led to the wide use of the all-or-none law. Beginning in 1934, Adrian worked on the electrophysiology and functional disturbances of the brain. He received a Nobel Prize in 1932, with C. Sherrington.