Timothy Bliss

{{Short description|British neuroscientist}} {{Use British English|date=August 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Tim Bliss | birth_name = Timothy Vivian Pelham Bliss | native_name_lang = | image =  | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age |df=yes|1940|7|27}}<ref name=whoswho>{{Who's Who | title=BLISS, Dr Timothy Vivian Pelham | id = U7863 | volume = 2016 | edition = online Oxford University Press|location=Oxford}}</ref> | birth_place = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | other_names = | residence = | citizenship = | nationality = | fields = | workplaces = {{Plainlist| * National Institute for Medical Research * University College London}} | patrons = | education = Dean Close School | alma_mater = McGill University | thesis_title =  | thesis_url =  | thesis_year =  | doctoral_advisor =  | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = | influences = | influenced = | awards = {{Plainlist| * FRS (1994)<ref name=frs/> * Croonian Lecture (2012)}} | spouse =  | partner =  | children = | signature =  | signature_alt = | website =  | footnotes = }} '''Timothy Vivian Pelham Bliss''' FRS (born 27 July 1940) is a British neuroscientist.<ref name=whoswho/> He is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, and a group leader emeritus at the Francis Crick Institute, London.

In 2016 Professor Tim Bliss shared with Professors Graham Collingridge and Richard Morris the 2016 Brain Prize, one of the world's most coveted science prizes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebrainprize.org/flx/prize_winners/prize_winners_2016/biography_timothy_bliss/|title=Biography Timothy Bliss – Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Foundation|publisher=thebrainprize.org|access-date=2023-03-02}}</ref>

==Life==

Born in England he was educated at Dean Close School and McGill University (BSc, 1963; PhD, 1967).<ref name="whoswho" /> In 1967, he joined the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill, London, where he was Head of the Division of Neurophysiology from 1988 till 2006. His work with Terje Lømo in Per Andersen's laboratory at the University of Oslo in the late 1960s established the phenomenon of long-term potentiation (LTP) as the dominant synaptic model of how the mammalian brain stores memories.

==Career and research== In 1973, he and Terje Lømo published<ref>{{Cite journal | pmid = 4727084 | pmc = 1350458 | year = 1973 | last1 = Bliss | first1 = T. V. | title = Long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission in the dentate area of the anaesthetized rabbit following stimulation of the perforant path | journal = The Journal of Physiology | volume = 232 | issue = 2 | pages = 331–56 | last2 = Lomo | first2 = T | doi=10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010273 }}</ref> the first evidence of a Hebb-like synaptic plasticity event induced by brief tetanic stimulation, known as long-term potentiation (LTP).<ref name="DolphinErrington1982">{{cite journal|last1=Dolphin|first1=A. C.|last2=Errington|first2=M. L.|last3=Bliss|first3=T. V. P.|title=Long-term potentiation of the perforant path in vivo is associated with increased glutamate release|journal=Nature|volume=297|issue=5866|year=1982|pages=496–497|issn=0028-0836|doi=10.1038/297496a0|pmid=6123949|bibcode=1982Natur.297..496D|s2cid=4255128}}</ref><ref>Tim V. P. Bliss, Graham L. Collingridge, Richard G. Morris, ''Long-term potentiation: enhancing neuroscience for 30 years'', Oxford University Press, 2004, {{ISBN|978-0-19-853030-5}}</ref><ref>Per Andersen, Richard Morris, David Amaral, Tim Bliss and John O'Keefe (eds), [https://books.google.com/books?id=lc2xMroaWDUC&dq=t+v+p+bliss&pg=PT934 ''The hippocampus book'']. Oxford University Press, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-19-510027-3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Bliss | first1 = T. V. P. | last2 = Collingridge | first2 = G. L. | doi = 10.1038/361031a0 | title = A synaptic model of memory: Long-term potentiation in the hippocampus | journal = Nature | volume = 361 | issue = 6407 | pages = 31–39 | year = 1993 | pmid = 8421494 | bibcode = 1993Natur.361...31B | s2cid = 4326182 }}</ref> His work has done much to provide a neural explanation for learning and memory. Studying the hippocampus – the memory centre of the brain – Tim showed that the strength of signals between neurons in the brain exhibits a long-term increase following brief but intense activation, a phenomenon known as long-term potentiation (LTP).<ref name="frs">{{cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/people/timothy-bliss-11098/|title=Dr Timothy Bliss FMedSci FRS|publisher=Royal Society|location=London|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117005208/https://royalsociety.org/people/timothy-bliss-11098/|archivedate=2015-11-17}} One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from the royalsociety.org website where: {{blockquote|"All text published under the heading 'Biography' on Fellow profile pages is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License." --{{cite web |url=https://royalsociety.org/about-us/terms-conditions-policies/ |title=Royal Society Terms, conditions and policies |accessdate=2016-03-09 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925220834/https://royalsociety.org/about-us/terms-conditions-policies/ |archivedate=25 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}}}</ref>

Whilst LTP was discovered in Oslo in the lab of Per Andersen, Tim's subsequent research into the cellular properties of LTP and its relation to memory was conducted at London's National Institute for Medical Research where he worked from 1968 to 2006, becoming head of Neurosciences.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Committee Office, House of Commons |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmsctech/727/727vw16.htm |title=House of Commons – Science and Technology Committee – Written Evidence |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |accessdate=2012-12-21}}</ref> He is visiting professor at University College London.

Bliss is on the board of the Feldberg Foundation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.feldbergfoundation.org/board/ |title=Board members of the Feldberg Foundation |publisher=Feldbergfoundation.org |accessdate=2012-12-21}}</ref> and was trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum from 2004 to 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/browse/b/1744/Timothy%20Vivian%20Pelham+BLISS.aspx |title=Dr T V P Bliss, FRS Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, Dr T V P Bliss, FRS Profile |website=www.debretts.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331223205/http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/browse/b/1744/Timothy%20Vivian%20Pelham+BLISS.aspx |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> From the years 2009 until 2013, Bliss worked as an adjunct professor in the South Korean university, Seoul National University.<ref>{{cite web |title=Academy of Europe: Bliss Timothy |url=https://www.ae-info.org/ae/Member/Bliss_Timothy |website=www.ae-info.org |access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref>

==Awards and Honours== Source:<ref name=":0" /> * 1991 Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Neuroscience (with E. Kandel) * 1994 Feldberg Prize * 1994 Fellow of the Royal Society * 1998 Founding Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences * 2003 Annual Award for Contributions to British Neuroscience, British Neuroscience Society * 2012 Croonian Prize Lecture, Royal Society (this is the Society's principal lecture in the biological sciences, given annually since 1738) * 2013 Ipsen Prize for Neuronal Plasticity; Hon LlD Dalhousie University (with R. Morris and Y. Dudai)<ref>{{cite web |title=Tim Bliss {{!}} The Lundbeck Foundation |url=https://lundbeckfonden.com/en/tim-bliss |website=lundbeckfonden.com |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> * 2014 Hon DSc University of Hertfordshire * 2016 The Brain Prize, Lundbeck Foundation

==Notable Contributions== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Publications and Credits |- ! Year !! Title !! Journal |- | 1969 || Lamellar Organization of Hippocampal Excitatory Pathways<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Andersen |first1=P |last2=Bliss |first2=TV |last3=Lomo |first3=T |last4=Olsen |first4=LI |last5=Skrede |first5=KK |title=Lamellar organization of hippocampal excitatory pathways. |journal=Acta Physiologica Scandinavica |date=May 1969 |volume=76 |issue=1 |pages=4A–5A |doi=10.1111/j.1748-1716.1969.tb04499.x |pmid=5823402 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-1716.1969.tb04499.x |access-date=28 November 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> || Acta Physiologica Scandinavica |- | 1970 || Plasticity in a Monosynaptic Cortical Pathway<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bliss |first1=TV |last2=Lomo |first2=T |title=Plasticity in a monosynaptic cortical pathway. |journal=The Journal of Physiology |date=April 1970 |volume=207 |issue=2 |pages=61P |pmid=5511138 |url=https://europepmc.org/article/med/5511138 |access-date=28 November 2022}}</ref> || The Journal of Physiology |- | 1971 || Unit Analysis of Hippocampal Population Spikes<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Andersen |first1=P. |last2=Bliss |first2=T. V. P. |last3=Skrede |first3=K. K. |title=Unit analysis of hippocampal population spikes |journal=Experimental Brain Research |date=1 August 1971 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=208–221 |doi=10.1007/BF00234086 |pmid=5123965 |s2cid=7160894 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00234086 |access-date=28 November 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> || Experimental Brain Research |- | 1971 || Long-Lasting Increases of Synaptic Influence in the Unanesthetized Hippocampus<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bliss |first1=TV |last2=Gardner-Medwin |first2=AR |title=Long-lasting increases of synaptic influence in the unanesthetized hippocampus. |journal=The Journal of Physiology |date=July 1971 |volume=216 |issue=1 |pages=32P–33P |pmid=5558363 }}</ref> || The Journal of Physiology |- | 1971 || Lamellar Organization of Hippocampal Pathways<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Andersen |first1=P |last2=Bliss |first2=TV |last3=Skrede |first3=KK |title=Lamellar organization of hippocampal pathways. |journal=Experimental Brain Research |date=1971 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=222–38 |doi=10.1007/BF00234087 |pmid=5570425 |s2cid=12075886 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00234087 |access-date=28 November 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> || Experimental Brain Research |- | 1973 || Long-Lasting Potentiation of Synaptic Transmission in the Dentate Area of the Anaesthetized Rabbit Following Stimulation of the Perforant Path<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bliss |first1=TV |last2=Lomo |first2=T |title=Long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission in the dentate area of the anaesthetized rabbit following stimulation of the perforant path. |journal=The Journal of Physiology |date=July 1973 |volume=232 |issue=2 |pages=331–56 |doi=10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010273 |pmid=4727084 |pmc=1350458 |s2cid=2983008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bliss |first1=TV |last2=Gardner-Medwin |first2=AR |title=Long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission in the dentate area of the unanaestetized rabbit following stimulation of the perforant path. |journal=The Journal of Physiology |date=July 1973 |volume=232 |issue=2 |pages=357–74 |doi=10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010274 |pmid=4727085 |pmc=1350459 |s2cid=21559512 }}</ref> || The Journal of Physiology |- | 1979 || Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bliss |first1=T. V. P. |title=Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus |journal=Trends in Neurosciences |date=1 January 1979 |volume=2 |pages=42–45 |doi=10.1016/0166-2236(79)90019-5 |s2cid=53151887 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0166223679900195 |access-date=29 November 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> || Trends in Neurosciences |}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bliss, Timothy Vivian Pelham}} Category:Living people Category:1940 births Category:People educated at Dean Close School Category:McGill University alumni Category:British neuroscientists Category:British fellows of the Royal Society Category:Academics of University College London