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The legacy of Donald O. Hebb: more than the Hebb Synapse

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 4, pages 1013–1019 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Neuroscientists associate the name of Donald O. Hebb with the Hebbian synapse and the Hebbian learning rule, which underlie connectionist theories and synaptic plasticity, but Hebb's work has also influenced developmental psychology, neuropsychology, perception and the study of emotions, as well as learning and memory. Here, we review the work of Hebb and its lasting influence on neuroscience in honour of the 2004 centenary of his birth.

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Figure 1: Chester, Nova Scotia.
Figure 2: Dalhousie University.
Figure 3: Montreal Neurological Institute.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the McGill University archives for access to Hebb's files, and Mary Ellen Hebb and Jane Hebb Paul for access to family photographs and letters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4J1, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Richard E. Brown

  2. the Psychology Department, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr. Penfield, Montreal, PQ H3A 1B1, Canada

    Peter M. Milner

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  1. Richard E. Brown
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  2. Peter M. Milner
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Correspondence to Richard E. Brown.

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American Psychological Association

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Montreal Neurological Institute

National Head Start Association

Yerkes National Primate Research Center

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Brown, R., Milner, P. The legacy of Donald O. Hebb: more than the Hebb Synapse. Nat Rev Neurosci 4, 1013–1019 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1257

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