Samuel J. Williamson (November 6,1939,
West Reading, Pennsylvania - April 25, 2005) was an American
physicist and
neuroscientist.
Williamson was a co-developer of
magnetic source imaging
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a functional neuroimaging technique for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain, using very sensitive magnetometers. Arrays of SQUIDs ...
(MSI), and used this technique throughout his life to visualize and study
brain activity especially as it relates to
vision and
hearing. He published over 100 articles in the fields of
biomagnetism
Biomagnetism is the phenomenon of magnetic fields ''produced'' by living organisms; it is a subset of bioelectromagnetism. In contrast, organisms' use of magnetism in navigation is magnetoception and the study of the magnetic fields' ''effects'' on ...
and
neuroscience. He received both his bachelor's degree in
physics and his
Ph.D. from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in 1961 and 1965 respectively. Dr. Williamson started his professional career at MIT's
Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory
Francis may refer to:
People
*Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome
*Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters
* Francis (surname)
Places
*Rural M ...
as a staff scientist, and remained there until 1971 when he joined the
physics department at
New York University (NYU). He was subsequently promoted to full
professor of
physics in 1977, became additionally a
professor of
neural science
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developmen ...
in 1987, and a
University Professor in 1989, and was an associate of the
Center for Neural Science. He remained at NYU until his retirement in 2000.
In 1981 he was elected a Fellow of the
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...
.
[ (search on year=1981 and institution=New York University)]
References
External links
NYU page on Samuel Williamson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Samuel
1939 births
2005 deaths
Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni
New York University faculty
American neuroscientists
Fellows of the American Physical Society