Neal Miller (1909–2002) contributed to many aspects of psychology over a lengthy career. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of a psychologist, Miller got his Bs at the university of Washington in...

Neal Miller (1909–2002) contributed to many aspects of psychology over a lengthy career. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of a psychologist, Miller got his Bs at the university of Washington in 1931, an Ms at stanford a year later, and a Phd in psychology from yale in 1935. Miller then spent a year as a research fellow at the institute of Psychoanalysis in Vienna. though he began as a freudian, Miller gradually became interested in focusing on more measurable aspects of behaviour. over the course of his career, he worked on developing selection procedures for aircrew during World War ii, collaborated with John dollard on a behaviourist translation of freudian concepts, and did pioneering work in learning and neuroscience. Perhaps the most signifi cant of his contributions stemmed from his work on autonomic conditioning. While the breakthrough studies were done with his student leo dicara, the foundation of this work went back to Miller’s interests in motivation, behaviour and the brain, starting in the 1930s. the work of dicara and Miller was initially greeted with scepticism by many, but biofeedback procedures are now a standard form of medical treatment. from his early freudian days, Miller had evolved into a rigorous researcher whose contributions, particularly in learning, were recognized by many awards, including the presidency of the aPa in 1961. Miller remained active throughout his career, in later years serving on the aPa Board of scientifi c affairs. he died in March 2002, at the age of 92.