born Nov. 7, 1929, Vienna, Austria
Austrian-born U.S. neurobiologist.
He received his M.D. from New York University. Kandel's research revealed the role of synaptic transmission in learning and memory. He showed that weak stimuli give rise to certain chemical changes in synapses, forming the basis for short-term memory, and that stronger stimuli cause different synaptic changes, which result in a form of long-term memory. Along with Paul Greengard and Arvid Carlsson , Kandel was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2000. The findings of the three men resulted in the development of new drugs for parkinsonism and other disorders.