Historical case studies

Why do some people drill holes in their heads? From where did Alzheimer's disease get its name? How did a railway worker's freak accident in 1848 help us understand the frontal lobes of the brain? Find out all this and more in our historical case studies on the brain, below.

Patients Patient HM Patient HM was an important case study for neurological research in the 20th century. Here Holly Story discovers how his life and his unique condition helped scientists to understand the brain.

Patients Phineas Gage Phineas Gage (1823-1860) was the victim of a terrible accident in 1848. Holly Story gets to grips with the grisly tale and its place in the history of neuroscience.

Techniques Phrenology Around 200 years ago, phrenology - the study of the connection between the shape of the skull and the characteristics of the mind - emerged. Nancy Wilkinson investigates why it became so popular.

Techniques Trepanning The ancient practice of creating a hole in a human skull is still performed today. Nancy Wilkinson looks into why people believe that trepanning can help them and asks: who takes part in it?

Scientists Alois Alzheimer and Auguste Deter Have you ever thought about how certain diseases get their names? Nancy Wilkinson looks into the story of how Alzheimer's disease was discovered and named.

Scientists Camillo Golgi Camillo Golgi (1843-1926) discovered a new technique for staining tissue samples. Holly Story looks at Golgi's life and explains how his 'black reaction' played a vital part in the history of neuroscience.

Scientists Sir Alan Hodgkin and Sir Andrew Huxley Two neuroscientists, Alan Hodgkin (1914-1998) and Andrew Huxley (1917-2012), made some ground-breaking discoveries that would not have been possible without a few squid. Nancy Wilkinson finds out more.

Scientists Rita Levi-Montalcini Rita Levi-Montalcini was the first female winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Until her death on 30 December 2012, she was also the oldest living Nobel Prize winner at 103. Nancy Wilkinson found out more about her life as a neurologist.

Scientists Santiago Ramón y Cajal Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934) was a Spanish histologist who lived in the 19th century. Holly Story discovers why he is distinguished as the founder of modern neuroscience.

Scientists Sir Charles Sherrington The networked neurons that make up our brain and nervous system are connected by synapses. Nancy Wilkinson finds out more about Sir Charles Sherrington (1857-1952), the man who discovered the synapse.

Scientists Thomas Willis The brain has always been a hot scientific topic, and it continues to be studied and explored today. Nancy Wilkinson investigates Thomas Willis (1621-1675), a pioneer of research into the brain almost 400 years ago.