The History of Neuroscience 7: Localization of Brain Function after Broca

After Paul Broca localized the area responsible for producing speech in the posterior region of the left frontal lobe, John Hurling Jackson provided evidence showing the presence of different mental functions in the right and left cerebral hemispheres. His theory was confirmed by the discovery of the sensory language area by Carl Wernicke. Eduard Hitzig and Gustav Fritsch identified the motor cortex by electrical stimulation. David Ferrier also used electrical stimulation to discover other functional areas, including those responsible for hearing, vision, and intelligence. Hermann Munk correctly localized the visual cortex. The interesting story of Phineas Gage provided insights into the function of the frontal lobe. The first spontaneous electrical activity of the brain was recorded by Richard Caton, which led to the development of electroencephalography by Hans Berger.