History Of Brain Research

Question 1

Alcmaeon’s theory of brain function

Answer 1

Ca. 500 BC:When we lie down, blood goes into the brain and one falls asleep. When we stand up, the blood goes out of the head and one awakes. Discovered that the optic nerve is of paramount importance to vision.

Question 2

Who suggested that there are two types of nervous tissue?

Answer 2

Herophilos (335-280 BC) - he suggested (correctly) that we have two sets of nervous tissue - sensory & motor

Question 3

Year of the discovery of the optic microscope:

Answer 3

1595

Question 4

Jan Evangelista Purkyně

Answer 4

1787-1869 - Purkine cells in the cerebellum

Question 5

Camillo Golgi

Answer 5

Discovered a method of neuronal staining with silver nitrite

Question 6

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

Answer 6

Studied the neocortex, described various shapes of nerve cells

Question 7

C.J. Herrick

Answer 7

Dissected the brain of a salamander in all three directions - made high-quality drawings.

Question 8

K. Brodmann (1868-1918)

Answer 8

Histologically/cytoarchitectonically defined regions of the brain.

Question 9

Hans Berger

Answer 9

Invented EEG. First EEG recording in 1924.

Question 10

John Eccles 1903-1997

Answer 10

Received the Nobel prize for his research on synapses.

Question 11

The oldest text, mentioning the brain dates back to…

Answer 11

…1500 BC

Question 12

How many bones does the cranium contain?

Answer 12

21 bones

Question 13

The three meninges of the brain in the direction from bone to brain:

Answer 13

Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater

Question 14

The subarachnoid space and the brain ventricles are filled with…

Answer 14

…cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Question 15

List the four brain ventricles:

Answer 15

Lateral (2)
Third
Fourth

Question 16

Who was likely the first philosopher to claim that the brain is the site of the mind?

Answer 16

Alcmaeon of Croton (ca. 500BC)

Question 17

Wo studied and described in detail the surface connections of the brain?

Answer 17

Herophilus

Question 18

The three planes of reference in medicine.

Answer 18

Horizontal, sagittal, & coronal.

Question 19

Latin words of direction.

Answer 19

Anterior - Posterior
Superior - Inferior
Lateral - Medial

Question 20

Latin directions derived from names of body parts.

Answer 20

Rostral (closer to the beak or nose)
Caudal (closer to the tail)
Dorsal (towards the back or top)
Ventral (towards the abdomen or bottom)

Question 21

The embryo’s neural tube has three ‘bulges’ which eventually differentiate into the:

Answer 21

1. Prosencephalon (forebrain)
2. Mesencephalon (midbrain)
3. Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)

Question 22

The cerebral hemispheres (the cerebrum) grow out of the…

Answer 22

…telencephalon