Otto Lowenstein
Encyclopedia
Otto Lowenstein was a German-American psychiatrist
who was a native of Osnabrück
.
In 1914 he received his medical degree from the University of Bonn
, and after serving as military physician in World War I
, returned to Bonn
as a neuropsychiatric
assistant to Alexander Westphal
(1863-1941). While at Bonn he was involved in the fields of pediatric psychiatry and experimental psychology
. In 1933 he moved to Switzerland to escape Nazi persecution, and worked as a neuropsychiatrist at the Clinique La Métairie in Nyon
. In 1939 he emigrated to New York City
where he was associated with New York University
and later Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. In New York, he performed neuro-ophthalmological
research in collaboration with Irene Loewenfeld.
Lowenstein is remembered for his studies involving motion, size and functionality of the eye's pupil
from a neuropsychiatric standpoint. In Germany and America, he created laboratories with specialized equipment dedicated to research of the eye's pupil. He was particularly interested in the status of an individuals' pupil during specific emotional and psychological states, as well as the condition of the pupil during periods of fatigue and alertness.
In 1957, with Irene Loewenfeld, he built an "electronic pupillograph" that incorporated infrared
technology. This device was used to accurately measure and analyze the pupils' diameter, and was a forerunner to more sophisticated pupillographic instruments that were developed in later years. Lowenstein and Loewenfeld's pioneer experiments and numerous publications on pupillary topics were a major factor in bringing pupillography into American neuro-ophthalmological
medicine.
Recently a psychiatric clinic for children called Das Professor Otto Löwenstein Haus was founded at the University of Bonn
in Lowenstein's honor.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was a native of Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
.
In 1914 he received his medical degree from the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, and after serving as military physician in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, returned to Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
as a neuropsychiatric
Neuropsychiatry
Neuropsychiatry is the branch of medicine dealing with mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. It preceded the current disciplines of psychiatry and neurology, in as much as psychiatrists and neurologists had a common training....
assistant to Alexander Westphal
Alexander Carl Otto Westphal
Alexander Carl Otto Westphal was the son of the psychiatrist Carl Friedrich Otto Westphal and Clara Mendelssohn and the grandson of Otto Carl Friedrich Westphal....
(1863-1941). While at Bonn he was involved in the fields of pediatric psychiatry and experimental psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
. In 1933 he moved to Switzerland to escape Nazi persecution, and worked as a neuropsychiatrist at the Clinique La Métairie in Nyon
Nyon
Nyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
. In 1939 he emigrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he was associated with New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and later Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. In New York, he performed neuro-ophthalmological
Neuro-ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmology is the subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology concerning visual problems that are related to the nervous system ....
research in collaboration with Irene Loewenfeld.
Lowenstein is remembered for his studies involving motion, size and functionality of the eye's pupil
Pupil
The pupil is a hole located in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to enter the retina. It appears black because most of the light entering the pupil is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye. In humans the pupil is round, but other species, such as some cats, have slit pupils. In...
from a neuropsychiatric standpoint. In Germany and America, he created laboratories with specialized equipment dedicated to research of the eye's pupil. He was particularly interested in the status of an individuals' pupil during specific emotional and psychological states, as well as the condition of the pupil during periods of fatigue and alertness.
In 1957, with Irene Loewenfeld, he built an "electronic pupillograph" that incorporated infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
technology. This device was used to accurately measure and analyze the pupils' diameter, and was a forerunner to more sophisticated pupillographic instruments that were developed in later years. Lowenstein and Loewenfeld's pioneer experiments and numerous publications on pupillary topics were a major factor in bringing pupillography into American neuro-ophthalmological
Neuro-ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmology is the subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology concerning visual problems that are related to the nervous system ....
medicine.
Recently a psychiatric clinic for children called Das Professor Otto Löwenstein Haus was founded at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
in Lowenstein's honor.