Torsten Thunberg

Torsten Ludvig Thunberg (30 June 1873 – 4 December 1952) was a Swedish physiologist and biochemist who worked on metabolic oxidation, including examinations of key steps in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, producing insights that were later elucidated by Hans A. Krebs.

His 1896 work noted what is now called the "thermal grill illusion", a perception of extreme heat and pain from placing closely interlaced warm (40 °C) and cold (20 °C) stimuli on the skin.

[4] In 1912 he examined dehyrogenase enzyme activity using methylene blue indicators and noted the role of succinate in a chain of compounds.

His "barospirator" was modified by others and was used as prior art by John H. Emerson to invalidate the patent of Philip Drinker for an iron lung.

[6][5][7][8] Thunberg was also involved in social activism in his student years at Uppsala, taking part in the Verdandi, along with Hjalmar Öhrvall.