Historia y Humanidades

The beginnings of neuroscience in Spain. ‘Neural circulation’ in the work of the illustrious novator Martín Martínez (1684-1734)

E. García-Albea Ristol, J. García-Albea Martín [REV NEUROL 2009;49:95-99] PMID: 19598139 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.4902.2009066

OPEN ACCESS

Volumen 49 | Number 02 | Nº of views of the article 4.282 | Nº of PDF downloads 438 | Article publication date 16/07/2009

Download PDF Castellano Citation Search in PubMed

Share in:

Go to another issue

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION During the ‘scientific revolution’ that took place in the 18th century, a complex and poorly completed theory on the functioning of the nervous system, neural circulation, was to draw the attention of the European vanguards and, although it came up against a number of important obstacles, it also attempted to renew the traditional gallenic knowledge that had prevailed until then. In Spain, the field of medical knowledge was to flourish and the neurosciences presented their credentials with the introduction and development of the concept of neural circulation by the novator Martín Martínez. DEVELOPMENT. This work attempts to evoke that historic time and to summarise the elements that go to make up the neural or ‘spirituous’ circulation, as well as reviewing the figure of Martín Martínez.

CONCLUSIONS Neural circulation was a speculative theoretical deviation that tried, unsuccessfully, to offer a better explanation for empirical facts. In Spain, led by Martín Martínez, it was at least an attempt to modernise thinking by introducing the new ideas about neurological anatomy that were going round Europe. KeywordsAnatomy Brain functioning History Illustration Neural circulation CategoriesNeurociencia básica

FULL TEXT (solo disponible en lengua castellana / Only available in Spanish)

Acceso directo al último número

Último Podcast

Historia y Humanidades

The beginnings of neuroscience in Spain. ‘Neural circulation’ in the work of the illustrious novator Martín Martínez (1684-1734)