Neal E. Miller

American psychologist and neuroscientist

Neal Elgar Miller (August 3, 1909 – March 23, 2002) was an American psychologist and neuroscientist. He is considered one of the founders of biofeedback and was a pioneer in the field of behavioral medicine.

Early life and education

Neal E. Miller was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in Everett, Washington. He attended the University of Washington, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1931. He then went on to study at Stanford University, receiving his master's degree in 1932. Miller completed his Ph.D. at Yale University in 1935, where he studied under the guidance of Clark L. Hull.

Career

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Neal E. Miller

Miller began his academic career at Yale University, where he worked as a research assistant and later as a faculty member. His early work focused on learning theory and the psychology of motivation. He collaborated with John Dollard to develop the frustration-aggression hypothesis, which posits that aggression is the result of blocking, or frustrating, a person's efforts to attain a goal.

In the 1950s, Miller's research interests shifted towards the physiological basis of behavior. He conducted pioneering studies on the autonomic nervous system and its role in learning and behavior. His work demonstrated that autonomic responses, such as heart rate and blood pressure, could be brought under voluntary control through operant conditioning. This research laid the groundwork for the development of biofeedback techniques.

Contributions to biofeedback

Miller's research in the 1960s and 1970s was instrumental in establishing the field of biofeedback. He showed that individuals could learn to control physiological processes that were previously thought to be involuntary. This work had significant implications for behavioral medicine, as it suggested new ways to treat conditions such as hypertension, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Neal E. Miller received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to psychology and neuroscience. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and received the National Medal of Science in 1964. Miller also served as president of the American Psychological Association and was a member of several other prestigious scientific organizations.

Legacy

Miller's work has had a lasting impact on the fields of psychology and neuroscience. His research on the physiological basis of behavior and the development of biofeedback techniques has influenced a wide range of disciplines, from clinical psychology to neurobiology.

Related pages

• Biofeedback
• Behavioral medicine
• Learning theory
• Frustration-aggression hypothesis