Andrew King (neurophysiologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew King
FRS FMedSci
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King in 2018
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| Born |
Andrew John King
8 April 1959 |
| Education | Northolt High School |
| Alma mater | King's College London University of London |
| Awards | Wellcome Prize Medal in Physiology |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neurophysiology |
| Institutions | University of Oxford National Institute for Medical Research |
| Thesis | The representation of visual and auditory space in the guinea-pig superior colliculus (1984) |
Andrew John King (born 8 April 1959) is a British scientist who studies the brain. He is a professor at the University of Oxford. Professor King is an expert in Neurophysiology, which is the study of how the nervous system works. He is also a special researcher with the Wellcome Trust.
About Andrew King
Early Life and Education
Andrew King went to Northolt High School. He then studied at King's College London, where he earned a science degree. Later, he became a PhD student at the National Institute for Medical Research. A PhD is a very high university degree that shows you are an expert in a certain subject.
For his PhD, he studied how the brains of guinea pigs understand what they see and hear. He looked at a part of the brain called the superior colliculus. He earned his PhD from the University of London in 1984.
Career and Discoveries
Professor King has made important discoveries about how our brains hear and understand sounds. He found that the brain creates a special "map" of the world around us based on sounds. This map helps us know where sounds are coming from.
His research also shows that our adult brains are very flexible. They can change how they process sounds. This helps us adjust to different sound environments. For example, our brains can adapt to changes in how sounds are spread out. They can also adjust to long-term changes, like when someone starts to lose their hearing.
Professor King's work helps us understand how we hear. It also helps create better ways to help people who have hearing loss.
Awards and Recognition
In 2018, Andrew King was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. He received this award because he has made "important contributions to improving natural knowledge." He is also a Fellow of The Physiological Society.
