Curt Richter

Curt Paul Richter (February 20, 1894 – December 21, 1988) was a biologist, psychobiologist and geneticist who made important contributions in the field of circadian rhythms. Notably, Richter identified the hypothalamus as a "biological pacemaker" involved in sleeping and wakefulness. In particular, this region suspected by Richter was later identified as the suprachiasmatic nucleus.[1]

Curt Paul Richter
Born20 February 1894
Denver, Colorado, United States
Died21 December 1988
Baltimore, Maryland
NationalityAmerican
Alma materHarvard University, Johns Hopkins University
Scientific career
InfluencesJohn B. Watson

Richter's parents emigrated to the United States from Germany and settled in Denver, Colorado where he was born. He studied at the Harvard University and later under John Watson at Johns Hopkins University.[1][2]

Richter induced need states in experimental animals by depriving them of substances essential to survival, or manipulating the hormone levels, and showed that these need states generate appetites, and behaviours precisely fitting the animal's need even if the animal had never before experienced the need; demonstrating genetic programming of behaviour. He also triggered other pre-programmed behaviours, such as nest building, by manipulating hormone levels.[3]

References
  1. Schulkin, Jay (1989). "In honor of a great inquirer: Curt Richter" (PDF). Psychobiology. 17(2): 113–114.
  2. "Curt Paul Richter | American biologist". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  3. Derek Denton (8 June 2006). The Primordial Emotions: The Dawning of Consciousness. Oxford University Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-19-920314-7.


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