Herbert Henri Jasper (1906-1999): An appreciation

Herbert Henri Jasper dedicated his life to studies of the brain in relation to the mind and behavior. He pioneered the application of the electroencep halogram (EEG) for the study of the electrical activity of the brain and us ed this technique in studies of consciousness, learning and particularly th e examination of epileptic discharge. He utilized microelectrode recordings from single brain cells and combined this technique with microchemical ana lyses to study cortical and sub-cortical activity. He added substantially t o our understanding of brainstem and thalamic reticular formations in condi tions of consciousness and in relation to petit-mal epilepsy. His work with Wilder Penfield and associates over a quarter century elucidated the mecha nisms of epilepsy and added to our understanding of the functional anatomy of the human brain. An enthusiastic and able organizer, Herbert Jasper was responsible for many international conferences on brain science and worked tirelessly to develop international collaboration among investigators of th e nervous system, being one of the founders of the International Brain Rese arch Organization and the Society for Neuroscience. His prodigious contribu tions in basic and clinical research will be recognized by the world commun ity of brain science for years to come.