Giles Brindley
Encyclopedia
Sir Giles Skey Brindley, GBE
(born circa 1926), is a British
physiologist, musicologist and composer.
He made important contributions to the treatment of erectile dysfunction
, and is perhaps best known for an unusual scientific presentation at the 1983 Las Vegas
meeting of the American Urological Association
, where he removed his trousers to show the audience his chemically induced erection and invited them to inspect it closely. He had injected himself with phenoxybenzamine
, an alpha blocker
, in his hotel room before the presentation.
He is also a pioneer in visual prosthetics, developing one of the first visual prosthesis in the 1960s. The device was tested on four blind patients, giving them some basic visual sensation, but given the technology of the day further development was impractical.
He spent most of his career at the University of London
and London Hospital, authoring more than 100 scientific papers in a variety of subjects. He was doctoral advisor to David Marr (neuroscientist) who later developed computational theories of vision that had great impact in the neuroscience of vision and computer vision
.
He held the 1986 Ferrier Lecture
, a triennial Royal Society
prize lectureship. His knighthood was given for his research in bioengineering.
Brindley invented a musical instrument in the 1960s, the 'logical bassoon
', an electronically controlled version of the bassoon. It was easier to play than a normal bassoon, but was never marketed.
He has also composed music for wind instruments, including Variations on a Theme by Schoenberg.
GBE
GBE or Gbe may refer to:* Gbe languages, a group of languages in West Africa* Gigabit ethernet, a term for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second* Government business enterprise...
(born circa 1926), is a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
physiologist, musicologist and composer.
He made important contributions to the treatment of erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
, and is perhaps best known for an unusual scientific presentation at the 1983 Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
meeting of the American Urological Association
American Urological Association
The American Urological Association is a professional association in the United States for urology professionals.-Awards:*Hugh Hampton Young Award. Presented annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to the study of genitourinary tract disease. This award is sponsored by Karl Storz...
, where he removed his trousers to show the audience his chemically induced erection and invited them to inspect it closely. He had injected himself with phenoxybenzamine
Phenoxybenzamine
Phenoxybenzamine is a non-selective, irreversible alpha antagonist.-Uses:It is used in the treatment of hypertension, and specifically that caused by pheochromocytoma...
, an alpha blocker
Alpha blocker
Alpha-1 blockers constitute a variety of drugs which block α1-adrenergic receptors in arteries and smooth muscles.-Pharmacology:...
, in his hotel room before the presentation.
He is also a pioneer in visual prosthetics, developing one of the first visual prosthesis in the 1960s. The device was tested on four blind patients, giving them some basic visual sensation, but given the technology of the day further development was impractical.
He spent most of his career at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and London Hospital, authoring more than 100 scientific papers in a variety of subjects. He was doctoral advisor to David Marr (neuroscientist) who later developed computational theories of vision that had great impact in the neuroscience of vision and computer vision
Computer vision
Computer vision is a field that includes methods for acquiring, processing, analysing, and understanding images and, in general, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g., in the forms of decisions...
.
He held the 1986 Ferrier Lecture
Ferrier Lecture
The Ferrier Lecture is a Royal Society lectureship given every three years "on a subject related to the advancement of natural knowledge on the structure and function of the nervous system"...
, a triennial Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
prize lectureship. His knighthood was given for his research in bioengineering.
Brindley invented a musical instrument in the 1960s, the 'logical bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
', an electronically controlled version of the bassoon. It was easier to play than a normal bassoon, but was never marketed.
He has also composed music for wind instruments, including Variations on a Theme by Schoenberg.