Susumu Tonegawa

Susumu Tonegawa is a Japanese neuroscientist celebrated for his groundbreaking work on the molecular mechanisms underlying memory and learning. He is best known for discovering how specific brain cells, called neurons, encode and store memories. Tonegawa's research involves manipulating genes to better understand how neural circuits function, using techniques that allow scientists to observe and influence brain activity. His contributions have significantly advanced our understanding of how memories are formed and retrieved, bridging the fields of neurobiology, genetics, and biophysics. In 1987, he received the Nobel Prize for his discoveries related to the immune system, further highlighting his scientific impact.