William B. Levy, PhD
The University of Virginia’s Department of Neurosurgery, along with the broader scientific community, deeply mourn the recent passing of Professor William B. Levy, PhD, a remarkable figure whose contributions to neuroscience were truly profound. His legacy as an exceptional researcher and a guiding mentor will forever enrich the field and the lives of those he touched.
Dr. Levy began his tenure at the the UVA School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery as an assistant professor and rose through the ranks to become a distinguished professor. He dedicated over 46 years of his life to the University of Virginia. Throughout his career, Dr. Levy’s academic pursuits centered on understanding the neural mechanisms of cognition, including synaptic plasticity, computational theories of brain function, and constraint-based interpretations of neural information processing. His seminal experimental work on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus demonstrated the associativity of long-term potentiation and the existence of long-term depression. He remained quite proud of this early work, particularly as synaptic depression had only been theorized to exist. Colleagues fondly remember his enthusiasm for discussing brain function at conferences, a testament to his passion and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge. In 2007, the International Neural Network Society honored him with the prestigious Hebb Award.
Please join us in extending our condolences to Dr. Levy’s family, friends, and colleagues in the Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Levy’s obituary may be found here.
Filed Under: Community