Prof. Recounts Experiences in Nazi Vienna

Nobel laureate and Columbia neuroscience professor Eric Kandel discussed and signed his recent autobiography Monday night.

The book, In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind, described his grim childhood memories of living in Nazi-occupied Vienna, his successful escape to the United States, and his life as a student, psychiatrist, and scientist. These experiences served as inspiration for his search for the biological link between the mind and the brain.

Kandel is best known for his theory on the molecular basis of the mind’s ability to store memories created through the formation or strengthening of new synapses within existing neural networks. As he describes in his book, this theory emerged through the fascism, hatred, and hardship he experienced throughout his life.

“I can very well remember my journey on the steamboat to the United States when I was eight,” Kandel, now 78, said.

Kandel said he entered the field of psychology to understand the mental framework of cruelty that drove the Nazis to abuse and mistreat Jewish families during World War II.

This passion for psychoanalysis and understanding the human memory led him to ultimately pursue research in neuroscience.

After graduating from a public high school in Brooklyn, Kandel went on to double-major in history and literature at Harvard, where he developed an interest in psychoanalysis. He then studied at the New York University School of Medicine and worked in Dr. Harry Grundfest’s laboratory of electrophysiology.

When initially asked what he would like to study at NYU, Kandel remembers passionately replying, “I would like to locate the id, ego, and super-ego in the brain.” Today, he recalls this moment as one of humorous overambition. Kandel ultimately decided to focus on understanding the mechanisms governing the formation of memory and behavior in the simple crayfish Aplysia, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2000.

Kandel noted that much of the inspiration for his book came from his desire to preserve the traces of both his scientific work and the life that influenced it. “It was part of my natural desire to preserve this record and put my life into perspective,” he said.

“It was a great experience to see him discuss his book today in which he so beautifully brings together the history of neuroscience and his personal life,” Irene Chen, BC ’09, said.

Kandel closed the session at Columbia bookstore saying, “When you step back and look at my work, you might think that all my research was planned out, while in truth I had no particular plan of action,” adding, “Don’t be afraid to tackle difficult problems and search for answers.”

Roland Zemla can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.