RESUMEN
In this chapter, we identify three distinct avenues of research on the philosophical, historical, and sociopolitical dimensions of engram research. First, we single out the need to refine philosophical understandings of memory within neuroscientific research on the engram. Specifically, we question the place of constructivist and preservationist philosophical claims on memory in the formulation of the engram concept and its operationalization in contemporary neuroscience research. Second, we delve into the received historiography of the engram claiming its disappearance after Richard Semon's (1859-1918) coinage of the concept. Differently from this view, we underline that Semon's legacy is still largely undocumented: Unknown are the ways the engram circulated within studies of organic memory as well as the role Semon's ideas had in specific national contexts of research in neurosciences. Finally, another research gap on the engram concerns a socio-anthropological documentation of the factual and normative resources this research offers to think about memory in healthcare and society. Representations of memory in this research, experimental strategies of intervention into the engram, as well as their translational potential for neurodegenerative (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and psychiatric (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) conditions have not yet received scrutiny notwithstanding their obvious social and political relevance.All these knowledge gaps combined call for a strong commitment towards interdisciplinarity to align the ambitions of a foundational neuroscience of the engram with a socially responsible circulation of this knowledge. What role can the facts, metaphors, and interventional strategies of engram research play in the wider society? With what implications for philosophical questions at the foundation of memory, which have accompanied its study from antiquity? And what can neuro- and social scientists do jointly to shape the social and political framings of engram research?
Asunto(s)
Memoria , Humanos , Historia del Siglo XIX , Historia del Siglo XX , Neurociencias/historia , Filosofía/historia , SociologíaRESUMEN
In the second half of the 20th century, neuroscientists across North America developed automated systems for use in their research laboratories. Their decisions to do so were complex and contingent, partly a result of global reasons, such as the need to increase efficiency and flexibility, and partly a result of local reasons, such as the need to amend perceived biases of earlier research methodologies. Automated methods were advancements but raised several challenges. Transferring a system from one location to another required that certain components of the system be standardized, such as the hardware, software, and programming language. This proved difficult as commercial manufacturers lacked incentives to create standardized products for the few neuroscientists working towards automation. Additionally, investing in automated systems required massive amounts of time, labor, funding, and computer expertise. Moreover, neuroscientists did not agree on the value of automation. My brief history investigates Karl Pribram's decisions to expand his newly created automated system by standardizing equipment, programming, and protocols. Although he was an eminent Stanford neuroscientist with strong institutional support and computer know-how, the development and transfer of his automated behavioral testing system was riddled with challenges. For Pribram and neuroscience more generally, automation was not so automatic.
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Neurociencias , Neurociencias/métodos , Neurociencias/historia , Neurociencias/instrumentación , Historia del Siglo XX , Automatización/métodos , Automatización/instrumentación , Automatización de Laboratorios/instrumentación , Automatización de Laboratorios/métodos , Automatización de Laboratorios/historia , América del NorteAsunto(s)
Neurociencias , Humanos , Neurociencias/historia , Historia del Siglo XXI , Animales , Historia del Siglo XXRESUMEN
This article traces the career of Dr. Sabina Luchetti (1969-2021), a noted physician (medical doctor, specialized in Neurology at Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy), a dedicated neuroscientist (Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Tor Vergata University and IRCCS Santa Lucia of Rome), and a member of a renowned Netherlands group (senior researcher at Professor Swaab Laboratory of the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands), working in the field of brain function and diseases. She is particularly involved in the study of natural compounds, such as neurosteroids and their biosynthetic pathways in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammation- related disorders, working on post-mortem human brains. This editorial outlines Dr. Luchetti's wide range of interests, discloses her superior fund of knowledge, and recollects her humanitarian spirit, all of which contribute to creating a great sense of belonging to any group of researchers whom she worked with. The impact of Dr. Luchetti's work will continue to be felt for many years. From the bench to the bedside, her work has indirectly contributed to shedding light on the neurosteroids' potential therapeutic effects, considering that neurosteroids and their analogues (some of which are over-the-counter) are now used to treat depression, epilepsy, and substance abuse disorders. Moreover, the potential therapeutic effects of allopregnanolone with respect to its capability to promote neuroregeneration and neuroprotection are a promising basis for future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Neuroesteroides , Humanos , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia del Siglo XXI , Neuroesteroides/metabolismo , Neuroesteroides/química , Neurociencias/historia , Países Bajos , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/metabolismoRESUMEN
Stanislas Dehaene is a cognitive neuroscientist elucidating the biological mechanisms that give rise to human perception and cognition. In a conversation with Neuron, he talks about his ongoing interest in consciousness research, the role of theory in neuroscience, and his current work on education and the science of learning.
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Estado de Conciencia , Humanos , Historia del Siglo XXI , Estado de Conciencia/fisiología , Historia del Siglo XX , Neurociencias/historia , Aprendizaje/fisiología , Neurociencia Cognitiva/historiaAsunto(s)
Neurociencias , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia del Siglo XXI , Humanos , Neurociencias/historiaRESUMEN
One of the most important figures in the history of neurohistology, Giuseppe Levi (1872-1965) contributed in numerous ways to neuroscience, particularly in the fields of neuronal plasticity and the understanding of sensory ganglia. His daughter Natalia Ginzburg, née Levi (1916-1991), on the other hand, achieved fame as one of the most celebrated Italian writers of the twentieth century. Lessico Famigliare (Family Lexicon), from 1963, is a semibiographical account of her life in which she describes the life and character of her father in detail, providing depth and complexity to a seminal figures in the development of neuroscience. A thorough reading of the book enables modern neurologists to fully appreciate Levi's life and contributions, by means of humanizing him and giving context to his life and works. The present article provides a summary of Levi's and Natalia's lives and times as well as an analysis of the book and of the intimate, vivid descriptions of the neurohistologist's life.
Uma das figuras mais importantes da história da neuro-histologia, Giuseppe Levi (18721965) contribuiu de diversas maneiras para a neurociência, particularmente no campo da plasticidade neuronal e na compreensão dos gânglios sensitivos. Sua filha Natalia Ginzburg, nascida Levi (19161991), pelo contrário, adquiriu fama como uma das escritoras italianas mais célebres do século XX. Lessico Famigliare (Léxico familiar), de 1963, é um relato semibiográfico de sua vida, na qual ela descreve a vida e o comportamento de seu pai em detalhes, e confere profundidade e complexidade a uma figura seminal no desenvolvimento da neurociência. Uma leitura aprofundada do livro permite que neurologistas modernos apreciem a vida e as contribuições de Levi de forma mais completa, o humanizando e dando contexto a sua vida e suas obras. O autor resume as vidas e épocas de Levi e Natalia, bem como avalia o livro e as descrições íntimas, vívidas, da vida do neurohistologista.
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Medicina en la Literatura , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia del Siglo XIX , Italia , Medicina en la Literatura/historia , Neurología/historia , Neurociencias/historiaAsunto(s)
Neurociencias , Historia del Siglo XXI , Historia del Siglo XX , Humanos , Neurociencias/historiaAsunto(s)
Neurociencias , Sinapsis , Neurociencias/historia , Historia del Siglo XX , Sinapsis/fisiología , Historia del Siglo XXI , Humanos , AnimalesAsunto(s)
Neurociencias , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia del Siglo XXI , Humanos , Neurociencias/historiaAsunto(s)
Neurociencias , Historia del Siglo XX , Femenino , Historia del Siglo XXI , Humanos , Neurociencias/historiaRESUMEN
Australian neuroscientists at the turn of the twentieth century and in the succeeding decades faced formidable obstacles to communication and supply due to their geographical isolation from centers of learning in Europe and North America. Consequently, they had to spend significant periods of their lives overseas for training and experience. The careers of six pioneers-Laura Forster, James Wilson, Grafton Elliot Smith, Alfred Campbell, Raymond Dart, and John Eccles-are presented in the form of vignettes that address their lives and most enduring scientific contributions. All six were medically trained and, although they never collaborated directly with one another, they were linked by their neuroanatomical interests and by shared mentors, who included Nobelists Ramon y Cajal and Charles Sherrington. By the 1960s, as the so-called "tyranny of distance" was overcome by advances in communication and transport technology, local collaborative groups of neuroscientists emerged in several Australian university departments that built on the individual achievements of these pioneers. This in turn led to the establishment of the Australasian Neuroscience Society in 1981.
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Neurociencias , Humanos , Australia , Neurociencias/historia , Neuroanatomía , Europa (Continente)RESUMEN
In the 19th century, postmortem brain examination played a central role in the search for the neurobiological origin of psychiatric and neurological disorders. During that time, psychiatrists, neurologists, and neuropathologists examined autopsied brains from catatonic patients and postulated that catatonia is an organic brain disease. In line with this development, human postmortem studies of the 19th century became increasingly important in the conception of catatonia and might be seen as precursors of modern neuroscience. In this report, we closely examined autopsy reports of eleven catatonia patients of Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum. Further, we performed a close reading and analysis of previously (systematically) identified historical German and English texts between 1800 and 1900 for autopsy reports of catatonia patients. Two main findings emerged: (i) Kahlbaum's most important finding in catatonia patients was the opacity of the arachnoid; (ii) historical human postmortem studies of catatonia patients postulated a number of neuroanatomical abnormalities such as cerebral enlargement or atrophy, anemia, inflammation, suppuration, serous effusion, or dropsy as well as alterations of brain blood vessels such as rupture, distension or ossification in the pathogenesis of catatonia. However, the exact localization has often been missing or inaccurate, probably due to the lack of standardized subdivision/nomenclature of the respective brain areas. Nevertheless, Kahlbaum's 11 autopsy reports and the identified neuropathological studies between 1800 and 1900 made important discoveries, which still have the potential to inform and bolster modern neuroscientific research in catatonia.
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Autopsia , Encéfalo , Catatonia , Neurociencias , Humanos , Encéfalo/patología , Catatonia/diagnóstico , Catatonia/historia , Catatonia/patología , Neurobiología/historia , Neurociencias/historia , Autopsia/historia , Autopsia/métodos , Historia del Siglo XIXRESUMEN
The history of Danish neuroscience starts with an account of impressive contributions made at the 17th century. Thomas Bartholin was the first Danish neuroscientist, and his disciple Nicolaus Steno became internationally one of the most prominent neuroscientists in this period. From the start, Danish neuroscience was linked to clinical disciplines. This continued in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries with new initiatives linking basic neuroscience to clinical neurology and psychiatry in the same scientific environment. Subsequently, from the middle of the 20th century, basic neuroscience was developing rapidly within the preclinical university sector. Clinical neuroscience continued and was even reinforced during this period with important translational research and a close co-operation between basic and clinical neuroscience. To distinguish 'history' from 'present time' is not easy, as many historical events continue in present time. Therefore, we decided to consider 'History' as new major scientific developments in Denmark, which were launched before the end of the 20th century. With this aim, scientists mentioned will have been born, with a few exceptions, no later than the early 1960s. However, we often refer to more recent publications in documenting the developments of initiatives launched before the end of the last century. In addition, several scientists have moved to Denmark after the beginning of the present century, and they certainly are contributing to the present status of Danish neuroscience-but, again, this is not the History of Danish neuroscience.
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Neurociencias , Psiquiatría , Humanos , Dinamarca , Historia del Siglo XX , Neurociencias/historia , Psiquiatría/historia , Historia del Siglo XIX , Historia del Siglo XVIIRESUMEN
To further our understanding of the transformations of the modern, globalized world, historical research concerning the twentieth century must acknowledge the tremendous impact that science and technology exerted and continue to exert on political, economic, military, and social developments. To better comprehend a global history of science, it is also crucial to include Germany's most prominent research organization: The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science (MPG). Despite the existence of numerous institute chronicles and selected anniversary editions, the overall development of the MPG-historically situated in more than 80 institutes with more than 250 research service departments (of which approximately 50 have reached into the wider field of neuroscience, behavioral science, and cognitive science)-it remains largely terra incognita from a scholarly perspective. From June 2014 to December 2022, the Research Program on the History of the Max Planck Society (GMPG) opened previously neglected vistas on contemporary history, academic politics, and economic developments of the Federal Republic of Germany and its international relations by raising questions such as these: Who were the key scientific actors? In what networks did they work? In what fields had the MPG paved the way for cutting-edge innovations? What were its successes and where did it fail? In what ways were its institutional structures connected to its scientific achievements and its historical legacies? What is specific about the MPG in comparison to other national institutions in and outside of Germany? These questions relate to the emerging interdisciplinary field of the neurosciences. They refer in part to the MPG's founding years-from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s-which faced significant challenges for a "normalization process" in biomedical research and the burgeoning field of neuroscience. This special issue of the Journal of the History of the Neurosciences is composed of an introduction, five articles, and two neuroscience history interviews. It reflects on the multifold dimensions of behavioral psychology, brain research, and cognitive science developments at the MPG since its beginning through the reopening of several former Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes. After World War II, the extra-university research society-named in honor of physicist Max Planck (1858-1947)-was eventually established in the British Occupation Zone in 1946, in the American Zone in 1948, and in 1949 in the French Zone, unifying the MPG as the successor umbrella organization of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes (KWIs), now transformed into Max Planck Institutes. Chronologically, the research period covered in this special issue ranges from 1948 to 2002.
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Investigación Biomédica , Neurociencias , Humanos , Historia del Siglo XX , Neurociencias/historia , Alemania , Academias e InstitutosRESUMEN
The relationship between biology and the psy disciplines (psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy) is a complex one. Many scholars have criticized how these disciplines have been biologized in the 20th century, especially since the emergence of psychopharmacology, neuroscience, and genetic research. However, biology is not just a laboratory-based science of chemical compounds, scanners, and DNA sequencing, but also a field science based on observations of organisms in their milieus. In this paper, we draw a contrast between laboratory-based biology with a focus on brains and genes, and an ecology-based biology with a focus on lives and niches. Our argument is philosophical in nature - building partly on Wittgenstein as a "philosopher of life" - to the effect that the psy sciences need not just less biologization of the former kind, but also more biologization of the latter kind to avoid a prevalent mentalism. Not least when it comes to an understanding of psychological distress, which can favorably be viewed situationally and coupled to human lives in ecological niches.