# Joseph Erlanger

_American doctor (1874-1965)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/joseph-erlanger
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Joseph Erlanger was an American physiologist who is best known for his contributions to the field of neuroscience. Together with Herbert Spencer Gasser, he identified several varieties of nerve fiber and established the relationship between action potential velocity and fiber diameter. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944 for these achievements.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 5 January 1874 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P569))
- **Place of birth:** San Francisco ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P19))
- **Died:** 5 December 1965 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P570))
- **Place of death:** St. Louis ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P27))
- **Occupation:** physician; neuroscientist; university teacher; physiologist; neurologist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P106))
- **Education:** Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; University of California, Berkeley; University of Wisconsin–Madison; Lowell High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P69))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532#P166))

## Questions

**When was Joseph Erlanger born?**  
Joseph Erlanger was born on 5 January 1874 in San Francisco.

**Where did Joseph Erlanger study?**  
Joseph Erlanger was educated at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of California, Berkeley, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Lowell High School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Joseph Erlanger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Erlanger) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q243532](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243532) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Joseph Erlanger nobel.jpg by The Nobel Foundation (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Erlanger_nobel.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Joseph Erlanger, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Joseph Erlanger nobel.jpg — The Nobel Foundation, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Joseph Erlanger". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/joseph-erlanger. Retrieved 10 November 2026.