1. For each contributor to the history of brain science listed below, describe his
major finding/viewpoint in 1-3 sentences. Note any agreements/disagreements or
relationships with other contributors on the list (e.g., Flourens provided evidence against
Gall’s phrenology).
◦ Willis (1600s) - became accidentally famous from Anne Green’s plight.
created “Circle of Willis” which is a redundant blood supply in some people’s brains.
Philosophized blood held aspects of the soul. Contributed idea that we can figure out
brain function via brain damage and dysfunction.
◦ Thales/Descartes (monism/dualism) - monism —> physical explanation
for all that happens (Thales). dualism —> there is a physical world/body plus ethereal
mind/ soul that communicates with the physical via the brain.
◦ Gall - Phrenology —> Analyzed skulls to read personality. believed
enlarged brain areas led to bumps on skull - if one function used more than others, that
would have a larger bump. picked up on Willis’ brain damage approach over a century
later
◦ Flourens —> provided evidence against Gall’s Phrenology. Studied
animals. Came up with Aggregate Field Theory which claims whole brain contributes to
behaviour.
◦ Jackson - clinical neurologist. observed patterns of muscle movements
during seizure - predicted topographic organization in the cerebral cortex, later verified
by Penfield. suspected many brain regions contributed to each behaviour
◦ Wernicke - had a stroke patient who could speak freely but made little
sense and couldn't understand other’s speech or writing - lesion in left posterior area of
brain. came up with Wernicke’s area which is the comprehension of speech. evidence
for localization of function
◦ Broca - Famous neurological case “Tan” - a man whose only spoken word
was tan! - broca’s area was damaged (left inferior frontal lobe lesion). came up w
broca’s area which is generation of speech. localization of function.
◦ Fritsch and Hitzig - electrically stimulated parts of the dog brain; different
stimulated parts caused different body parts to move; Neuroscientists then wondered if
cellular anatomy differed between these regions
◦ Brodmann - analyzed cellular organization of human cortex - used tissue
stains (ex. Nissl stain) to differentiate areas. said cells differ between regions -
localization of function
◦ Golgi - developed the “golgi stain” - uses silver to stain 1-3% of neutrons
black, throughout dendrites, soma, axons; believed that the cells in the brain form a
continuous network (syncytium) that share a cytoplasm
◦ Cajal - used Golgi stain to study the brain; proposed neurons were
discrete (separate cells)
major finding/viewpoint in 1-3 sentences. Note any agreements/disagreements or
relationships with other contributors on the list (e.g., Flourens provided evidence against
Gall’s phrenology).
◦ Willis (1600s) - became accidentally famous from Anne Green’s plight.
created “Circle of Willis” which is a redundant blood supply in some people’s brains.
Philosophized blood held aspects of the soul. Contributed idea that we can figure out
brain function via brain damage and dysfunction.
◦ Thales/Descartes (monism/dualism) - monism —> physical explanation
for all that happens (Thales). dualism —> there is a physical world/body plus ethereal
mind/ soul that communicates with the physical via the brain.
◦ Gall - Phrenology —> Analyzed skulls to read personality. believed
enlarged brain areas led to bumps on skull - if one function used more than others, that
would have a larger bump. picked up on Willis’ brain damage approach over a century
later
◦ Flourens —> provided evidence against Gall’s Phrenology. Studied
animals. Came up with Aggregate Field Theory which claims whole brain contributes to
behaviour.
◦ Jackson - clinical neurologist. observed patterns of muscle movements
during seizure - predicted topographic organization in the cerebral cortex, later verified
by Penfield. suspected many brain regions contributed to each behaviour
◦ Wernicke - had a stroke patient who could speak freely but made little
sense and couldn't understand other’s speech or writing - lesion in left posterior area of
brain. came up with Wernicke’s area which is the comprehension of speech. evidence
for localization of function
◦ Broca - Famous neurological case “Tan” - a man whose only spoken word
was tan! - broca’s area was damaged (left inferior frontal lobe lesion). came up w
broca’s area which is generation of speech. localization of function.
◦ Fritsch and Hitzig - electrically stimulated parts of the dog brain; different
stimulated parts caused different body parts to move; Neuroscientists then wondered if
cellular anatomy differed between these regions
◦ Brodmann - analyzed cellular organization of human cortex - used tissue
stains (ex. Nissl stain) to differentiate areas. said cells differ between regions -
localization of function
◦ Golgi - developed the “golgi stain” - uses silver to stain 1-3% of neutrons
black, throughout dendrites, soma, axons; believed that the cells in the brain form a
continuous network (syncytium) that share a cytoplasm
◦ Cajal - used Golgi stain to study the brain; proposed neurons were
discrete (separate cells)
