Contributions of Willis, Golgi and Mueller to the Understanding of Brain Functioning
Thomas Willis is often associated with the "circle of Willis," (or Cerebri anatome) an area of posterior communicating and anterior communicating arteries located at the base of the brain (Duke Neuropathology, 2002). Willis' Cerebri anatome not only shed new light on the brain and man's understanding of it, but it also sparked a number of different studies surrounding the area, it's function, and it's relation to the rest of the body. Willis lived during the seventieth century, and contributed a great deal to seventieth century neurological thought. Willis proposed that the cerebrum was the organ responsible for thought, and in animals the cerebrum is the "sensitive soul" (Molnar, 2004). In addition to Cerebri anatome, Willis contributed to the founding neurology and the understanding of brain function by recognizing the auditory nerve and the vagus, along with their varying branches, which expanded beyond the work of Galen (who preceded Willis is studies of the cranial nerves (Molnar, 2004).
Not only were Willis' contributions revolutionary, his methods were as well. Willis used many experimental methods that were ahead of his time and allowed him a peak into the human mind that his peers were unable to see. According to Rengachary et al. (2008) Willis pioneered the area of neurology contributing to the naming of a number of brain structures and describing a number of diseases associated with the brain.
Camillo Golgi was an Italian scientist who is best known for his contribution of the silver nitrate stain, a method that "stained" a "small percentage of neurons, allowing him to trace nerve structures more precisely" (Lanzoni, n.d). Using this method, Golgi was able to illustrate the entire nerve from body to dendrite. Furthermore, Golgi assigned a role to the dendrites, which he purported served a nutritive role (Finger, 1994). Golgi's staining methods allowed other scientists, including Cajal to further study the cells of the body and brain.
Not only were Willis' contributions revolutionary, his methods were as well. Willis used many experimental methods that were ahead of his time and allowed him a peak into the human mind that his peers were unable to see. According to Rengachary et al. (2008) Willis pioneered the area of neurology contributing to the naming of a number of brain structures and describing a number of diseases associated with the brain.
Camillo Golgi was an Italian scientist who is best known for his contribution of the silver nitrate stain, a method that "stained" a "small percentage of neurons, allowing him to trace nerve structures more precisely" (Lanzoni, n.d). Using this method, Golgi was able to illustrate the entire nerve from body to dendrite. Furthermore, Golgi assigned a role to the dendrites, which he purported served a nutritive role (Finger, 1994). Golgi's staining methods allowed other scientists, including Cajal to further study the cells of the body and brain.
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