Donders, Franciscus (F.C. Donders)

Franciscus Donders was a Dutch scientist who pioneered the study of human mental processes. In the 19th century, he developed methods to measure how long it takes for the brain to respond to different tasks, such as recognizing a stimulus or making a decision. By comparing simple and complex reactions, he helped establish a way to quantify mental functions, laying the groundwork for experimental psychology. His work revealed that mental processes have measurable durations, contributing to our understanding of cognition and reaction times in a scientific manner.