Johannes Peter Müller

Born July 14, 1801; died April 28, 1858 at the age of 56.

German physiologist and anatomist who was one of the largest in the 19th century. He and Magendie are credited with founding physiological science in its modern form. His famous discovery of the principle of specific nerve energies, when he was able to show that the impulses of sensory nerves, however stimulated, will be interpreted in the same way. For example, any stimulation of the optic nerve leads to a feeling of light, whether the light is actually on or not. His main work, Handbuch der Physiologie des Menschen für Vorlesungen, was published in 1833-40.