Dominique de Quervain
Encyclopedia
Dominique de Quervain is a Swiss neuroscientist. He is professor of neuroscience
and director of the Division of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Basel, Switzerland
. He is known for his pioneering research into the use of glucocorticoids (cortisol
) in the treatment of PTSD and phobia
s. He is understood to have found a link between cortisol and forgetting
, specifically that cortisol can inhibit memory retrieval. Furthermore, he is known for his important contributions to the field of genetics of human memory.
In 2006 Dominique de Quervain received the Pfizer-Prize in Neuroscience, in 2007 the Robert-Bing Prize of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, and in 2010 he has been elected a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
and director of the Division of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Basel, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He is known for his pioneering research into the use of glucocorticoids (cortisol
Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis; suppress the immune system; and aid in fat,...
) in the treatment of PTSD and phobia
Phobia
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder, usually defined as a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational...
s. He is understood to have found a link between cortisol and forgetting
Forgetting
Forgetting refers to apparent loss of information already encoded and stored in an individual's long term memory. It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage. It is subject to delicately balanced optimization that ensures that...
, specifically that cortisol can inhibit memory retrieval. Furthermore, he is known for his important contributions to the field of genetics of human memory.
In 2006 Dominique de Quervain received the Pfizer-Prize in Neuroscience, in 2007 the Robert-Bing Prize of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, and in 2010 he has been elected a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science.