Gasser, Herbert S.

Gasser, Herbert S. (Spencer) (1888–1963) neurologist; born in Platteville, Wis. He taught at the University of Wisconsin (1911–16), then moved to Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.) (1916–31) on the invitation of his former professor, Joseph Erlanger. For their pioneering experiments on electrophysiology of mammalian nerves and their demonstration that nerve impulse velocities depend on the thickness of the nerve fibers through which they pass, Gasser and Erlanger were awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in physiology. After his retirement, Gasser expanded his research to include electron microscopy of nerve tissue.