Johannes Müller was a notable physiologist of the nineteenth century who made important contributions in a wide range of subjects, including the selective nature of perception of different sensations through the electrical impulses transmitted by the nervous system. He also explored the relation of his studies to the development of a psychological system based upon the physiology of perception.

Johannes Peter Müller was born in Coblentz, Germany, and studied medicine at the University of Bonn where he graduated in 1822. After attending post graduation courses at the University of Berlin, he returned to Bonn in 1824 where he first worked at the university as private-docent, then as associate professor (1826), finally becoming professor in 1830. In the following year, he accepted the position of rector at the University of Berlin, where he worked, lectured, and researched until his death in 1858. At the times, natural philosophy was still a...