Richard G. Morris facts for kids

Richard Graham Michael Morris is a famous British neuroscientist. He was born on June 27, 1948. A neuroscientist is a scientist who studies the brain and the nervous system.

Professor Morris is well-known for creating a special test called the Morris water navigation task. This test helps scientists understand how animals learn and remember. He also worked on ideas about how brain connections get stronger, which is important for learning.

He is a director at the Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems in Edinburgh. He is also a top professor of neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh.

Discovering How We Learn and Remember

Richard Morris, along with two other scientists, Tim Bliss and Graham Collingridge, won a big award called the Brain Prize in 2016. They won it for their amazing discoveries about how our brains learn and remember things.

What is Long-Term Potentiation?

Their work focused on something called long-term potentiation (LTP). Think of LTP as the way connections between brain cells get stronger when you learn something new. When you practice a skill or remember a fact, these connections become more powerful. This process is super important for our ability to learn and form memories.

Why is This Discovery Important?

Understanding LTP helps scientists learn more about how memory works. It can also help them find ways to treat memory problems. This research is a big step in understanding the human brain.

Education and Career Journey

Richard Morris studied natural science at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He then earned his advanced degree, a D.Phil., from the University of Sussex in 1973.

Developing the Morris Water Task

From 1977 to 1986, he taught at the University of St Andrews. During this time, he created the Morris water navigation task. This task is still used by scientists today to study how animals learn and remember.

Moving to Edinburgh

In 1986, Professor Morris moved to the University of Edinburgh. He has continued his important research there, helping us understand more about the brain.

Awards and Recognition

Professor Morris has received many honors for his work.

• Since 1994, he has been a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
• Since 1997, he has been a fellow of the Royal Society. These are very respected groups of scientists.
• In 2007, he was given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a special award from the British government.
• In April 2020, he was chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United States.