By Marcello Cherchi, MD PhD
Georg von Békésy (Budapest, Hungary 1899 – Honolulu, United States 1972) trained in physics but eventually became interested in physiology. It is difficult to overstate the impact his work had in the fields of audiology, sensory physiology and otology (Bernhard 1962; Dallos and Canlon 2012; Evans 2003; Glorig 1973; Raju 1999; Ratliff 1973, 1976; Shampo and Kyle 1993; Tonndorf 1974, 1986). The test that today we call “audiometry” was originally called “von Békésy audiometry” in recognition of his contributions to developing it. His work and insights regarding cochlear mechanoelectrical transduction earned him the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine in 1961.
References
Bernhard CG (1962) Presentation of the Nobel prize for physiology or medicine (1961) to George von BEKESY. Trans Am Otol Soc 50: 332-6.
Dallos P, Canlon B (2012) Introduction to “good vibrations”: a special issue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nobel Prize to Georg von Bekesy. Hear Res 293: 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2012.08.013
Evans RB (2003) Georg von Bekesy: visualization of hearing. Am Psychol 58: 742-6. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.58.9.742
Glorig A (1973) Georg von Bekesy 1899-1972. Audiology 12: 540-1. doi: 10.3109/00206097309071667
Raju TN (1999) The Nobel chronicles. 1961: Georg von Bekesy (1899-1972). Lancet 354: 80. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)75353-8
Ratliff F (1973) Georg von Bekesy. Exp Brain Res 16: 219-20. doi: 10.1007/BF00233326
Ratliff F (1976) Georg von Bekesy. Biogr Mem Natl Acad Sci 48: 25-49.
Shampo MA, Kyle RA (1993) Georg von Bekesy–audiology and the cochlea. Mayo Clin Proc 68: 706. doi: 10.1016/s0025-6196(12)60608-9
Tonndorf J (1974) In memoriam Georg von Bekesy 1899-1972. J Acoust Soc Am 55: 576-7. doi: 10.1121/1.1914566
Tonndorf J (1986) Georg von Bekesy and his work. Hear Res 22: 3-10. doi: 10.1016/0378-5955(86)90067-5
