The article characterizes the scientific activity of B. M. Teplov, one of the largest Russian psychologists of the XX century, the founder of four scientific schools in Russian psychology. Identifies the key stages of his life and creativity, emphasizes his fundamental contribution to the development of such areas of psychology as the psychology of abilities, differential psychophysiology, military psychology, history of psychology, methodology of anthropology. Special attention is paid to historical-methodological and scientific-pedagogical activity of B. M. Teplov, who made a significant contribution to the development of psychological knowledge and University education in the country, as well as training at MSU psychologists of the highest qualification.

The determinations of general and differential psychophysiology are presented. Specific character of their subject and methods are shown. Some productive ways of mutual influence of Teplov’s and Sokolov’s scientific schools are considered. Sokolov’s school: research of activation-inactivation, functional states, orienting reflex has determined the development of informative and valuable electrophysiological methods of diagnostics of stable typological properties of nervous system. Presence of many psychological correlations of properties of nervous system (especially of arousability) allows to consider them as innate prerequisites of individual differences and individuality. Teplov’s school: action of every general law is refracted by the “individuality factor”. Investigation of group differences in development of functional states of monotony, exhaustion, satiety specifies conditions of linear and U-shaped dependence in activity effectiveness.