Per Andersen facts for kids

Per Oskar Andersen was a Norwegian brain scientist. He was born on January 12, 1930, and passed away on February 17, 2020. He worked as a researcher at the University of Oslo in Norway.

Who Was Per Andersen?

Per Andersen was a very important scientist who studied the brain. His work helped us understand how our brains learn and remember things. He spent many years researching how brain cells communicate.

His Big Discovery: How Our Brains Learn

In 1966, Per Andersen's research team made a huge discovery. They found something called "long-term potentiation." This is a fancy name for how brain cells get better at talking to each other. When you learn something new, the connections between your brain cells get stronger. This makes it easier for your brain to remember that information later.

Two key researchers in his lab, Terje Lømo and Timothy Bliss, helped a lot with this discovery. Their work showed how our brains can change and adapt over time. This process is super important for learning and memory.

Awards and Recognition

Per Andersen's work was highly respected around the world. He became a member of several important science groups. These included the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. He was also a member of the Royal Society, a very old and famous science group in the United Kingdom.

He received special "honorary degrees" from two universities. These were the University of Zürich and the University of Stockholm. An honorary degree is a special award given to someone who has made a big impact. It shows how much his scientific contributions were valued.