# Herbert Spencer Gasser

_American physiologist (1888-1963)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/herbert-spencer-gasser
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Herbert Spencer Gasser was an American physiologist, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1944 for his work with action potentials in nerve fibers while on the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis, awarded jointly with Joseph Erlanger.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 5 July 1888 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Platteville ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P19))
- **Died:** 11 May 1963 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P570))
- **Place of death:** New York City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P27))
- **Occupation:** physician; university teacher; psychologist; physiologist; neurologist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P106))
- **Education:** University of Wisconsin–Madison; Johns Hopkins University; Platteville High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P69))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Foreign Member of the Royal Society; George M. Kober Medal; doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201#P166))

## Questions

**When was Herbert Spencer Gasser born?**  
Herbert Spencer Gasser was born on 5 July 1888 in Platteville.

**Where did Herbert Spencer Gasser study?**  
Herbert Spencer Gasser was educated at University of Wisconsin–Madison, Johns Hopkins University, Platteville High School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Herbert Spencer Gasser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Spencer_Gasser) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q273201](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q273201) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Herbert Spencer Gasser nobel.jpg by Esselte (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herbert_Spencer_Gasser_nobel.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Herbert Spencer Gasser, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Herbert Spencer Gasser nobel.jpg — Esselte, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Herbert Spencer Gasser". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/herbert-spencer-gasser. Retrieved 7 November 2026.