# Jean-Pierre Changeux

_French biologist and neuroscietist (born 1936)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/jean-pierre-changeux
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Jean-Pierre Changeux is a French neuroscientist known for his research in several fields of biology, from the structure and function of proteins, to the early development of the nervous system up to cognitive functions. Although being famous in biological sciences for the MWC model, the identification and purification of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the theory of epigenesis by synapse selection and the global neuronal workspace theory for conscious processing are also notable scientific achievements. Changeux is known by the non-scientific public for his ideas regarding the connection between mind and physical brain. As put forth in his book, Conversations on Mind, Matter and Mathematics, Changeux strongly supports the view that the nervous system functions in a projective rather than reactive style and that interaction with the environment, rather than being instructive, results in the selection amongst a diversity of preexisting internal representations.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 6 April 1936 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Domont ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P19))
- **Citizenship:** France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P27))
- **Occupation:** neuroscientist; geneticist; professor; neurologist; biologist; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P106))
- **Education:** École Normale Supérieure; Science Faculty of Paris; Columbia University; University of California, Berkeley; Pasteur Institute ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P69))
- **Official website:** college-de-france.fr/site/jean-pierre-changeux/biographie.htm ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P856))
- **Positions held:** president (1993–1999); professor emeritus (25 February 1976 – 1 June 2006) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour; Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit; Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎; CNRS Gold medal; Wolf Prize in Medicine; Balzan Prize; Canada Gairdner International Award; Broquette-Gonin prize; Max Delbrück Medal; NAS Award in the Neurosciences; Karl Spencer Lashley Award; Jean-Louis Signoret Prize; Neuronal Plasticity Prize; Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Neuroscience Research; Novartis-Drew Award ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163#P166))

## Questions

**When was Jean-Pierre Changeux born?**  
Jean-Pierre Changeux was born on 6 April 1936 in Domont.

**What positions has Jean-Pierre Changeux held?**  
Positions held by Jean-Pierre Changeux include: president (1993–1999); professor emeritus (1976–2006).

**Where did Jean-Pierre Changeux study?**  
Jean-Pierre Changeux was educated at École Normale Supérieure, Science Faculty of Paris, Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Jean-Pierre Changeux](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pierre_Changeux) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q910163](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q910163) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: JPChangeux-small.jpg by Jean-Pierre Changeux (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JPChangeux-small.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Jean-Pierre Changeux, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: JPChangeux-small.jpg — Jean-Pierre Changeux, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Jean-Pierre Changeux". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/jean-pierre-changeux. Retrieved 5 November 2026.