Foundations of the neuron doctrine

Author(s)

• Shepherd, Gordon M.

Bibliographic Information

Foundations of the neuron doctrine

Gordon M. Shepherd

（History of neuroscience, no. 6）

Oxford University Press, 1991

• : alk. paper

Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-310) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

For a century, the neuron doctrine has been the basis for our concepts of nervous organization and brain function, stating that the cell theory applies to the nervous system. Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Spain's greatest scientist, was its main architect; his main tool being a capricious nerve cell stain discovered by Camillo Golgi. This book reviews the original papers on which the neuron doctrine was based, showing that the evidence came from such contributors as Albrecht Kolliker, Sigmund Freud, Wilhelm His, August Forel, Fritdjof Nansen and Gustav Retzius. Many questions were raised which remain relevant today. Electron microscopical studies in the 1950s appeared to confirm the classical doctrine but subsequent studies revealed unsuspected complexities. This book reviews the new studies against the classical work and suggests new directions for revising our concept of the neuron as a basis for the functional organization of the nervous system.

Table of Contents

• Introduction and overview
• From the beginnings to the cell theory
• Do nerve cells belong in the cell theory?
• Nerve cells or nerve nets?
• Kolliker gives in
• Support builds for networks
• The nerve cell studies of Freud
• The revolutionary method of Golgi
• A neuron theory takes form: His, Forel, Nansen
• Ramon Y Cajal: The shock of recognition
• The early discoveries of Cajal
• The laws of Cajal
• Joining the mainstream
• The neuron doctrine
• The law of dynamic polarization
• Controversy
• The synapse and the growth cone
• Forging a consensus
• Confrontation in Stockholm
• Modern revisions of the neuron doctrine
• Comments on sources
• References
• Author index
• Subject index.

by "Nielsen BookData"

• NCID: BA13579972
• ISBN:
  • 0195064917
• LCCN: 90028814
• Country Code: us
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: New York
• Pages/Volumes: ix, 338 p.
• Size: 25 cm
• Classification:
  • LCC : QM451
  • NLM : W1 HI85J no. 6
  • NLM : WL 11.1 S548f
  • DC20 : 611/.8/09
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Neuroanatomy -- History
  • LCSH : Neurons -- History
  • MESH : Neuroanatomy -- history
  • MESH : Neurons
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BA05056673