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Ivan Pavlov

Physiologist of Conditioned Reflexes

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849–1936) was a Nobel Prize-winning physiologist best known for discovering conditioned reflexes. His work bridged biology, psychology, and neuroscience, and remains central to behavioral science.

Contributions

• Conditioned Reflexes — Demonstrated that dogs could associate a neutral stimulus (bell) with food, forming a learned reflex.
• Physiology — Studied digestion, blood circulation, and higher nervous activity.
• Mathematical Physiology — Modeled reflex arcs as systems of input-output responses.

Legacy

Pavlov’s methods defined experimental psychology and inspired learning theory, behavioral therapy, and neuroscience. His integration of biology and quantitative science made him one of Russia’s greatest scientists.

Facts

• Born in Ryazan, Russia.
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1904.
• Discovered conditioned reflexes.
• Laid foundations of behaviorism.