Expermiments of the Brain of Monkeys.

Ferrier, David

Publication Date: 1876

About this Item

Phil. Trans., 165/II. - London: Published for the Royal Society by Trübner and Co., Ludgate Hill, E.C., 1875, 4°, pp. 433-88, with 36 Figs., card board with original title wrapper mounted on the front board; fine copy. Rare Offprint - First Separate Edition! The CROONIAN Lecture - Experiments of the Brain of Monkey (Second Series). By David Ferrier, M.A., M.D., Professor of Forensci Medicine, King's College. Communicated by Dr. Sanderson, V.P.R.S. "In a former memoir presented to the Royal Society the author described the results of electrical irritation of localized regions of the brain of monkeys. This memoir contains the details of experiments relating chiefly to the ablation or destruction of these localized centres, with the view of determining the significance, as regards motion and sensation, of the phenomena resulting from electrical stimulation, and for the purpose of ascertaining the function of those parts which give no external response to irritation. No originality is claimed either for the idea or method of carrying out these experiments." Ferrier Sir David Ferrier (1843-1928) was a pioneering Scottish neurologist and psychologist, "conducted two series of ablation studies with monkeys, the first of which was published in 1876. This series consisted of 25 monkeys with various cortical lesions, of which three monkeys had bilateral and two had unilateral lesions of the superior temporal gyrus. Ferrier tested his animals by carefully observing their response to sounds. He determined if they were "roused" by sounds, whether they turned their head and looked when called, or whether they would respond in any way when called by name. He gave these tests to monkeys with auditory lesions and those with nonauditory lesions. Although he lacked the conditioning techniques currently used to test animals, his tests were carefully conducted and he seemed well acquainted with each animal's preoperative responses to sound. Ferrier made two discoveries about auditory cortex lesions. First, he found that bilateral ablation of the superior temporal gyrus, unlike ablation of other areas, had the immediate effect of rendering the animals unresponsive to sound. This was the result he was looking for, and it provided conclusive evidence that he had found auditory cortex. Second, Ferrier found that unilateral lesions of auditory cortex resulted in deafness in the contralateral ear-a phenomenon he demonstrated by plugging the ipsilateral ear with cotton and observing the animal's reactions to sound. Given the evidence of the ablation studies along with that of the stimulation studies, Ferrier concluded that auditory cortex was located in the posterior two thirds of the superior temporal gyrus." Henry E. Heffner: Ferrier and the Study of Auditory Cortex. Archives of Neurology, 44 (1987).

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Expermiments of the Brain of Monkeys.
• Publication Date: 1876
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Neuroscience