| Evolution and the neurosciences down-under. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19367486 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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At the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century three Australians made notable contributions to founding the neurosciences: Alfred Walter Campbell (1868-1937) conducted the first extensive histological studies of the human brain; Grafton Elliot Smith (1871-1937) studied the monotreme brain and established the basis for understanding the mammalian brain; and Stanley David Porteus (1883-1972) extended his studies of intellectual disability to encompass the relation between brain size and intelligence. The work of each was decisively influenced by important members of the Edinburgh medical school or by Edinburgh medical graduates: William Turner (1832-1916) and William Rutherford (1839-1899) Professors of Anatomy and Physiology respectively at Edinburgh; James Thomas Wilson (1861-1945) Professor of Anatomy at the University of Sydney; and Richard James Arthur Berry (1867-1962) Professor of Anatomy at the University of Melbourne. An important aspect of the influence on the Australians was a materialist view of brain function but the work of all was most important for a theory even more central held by the Scots who had influenced them: Darwin's theory of evolution. The importance of the work of Campbell and especially that of Smith for Darwinism is contrasted with Darwin's own indifference to the peculiarities of the Australian fauna he observed when he visited Australia during HMS Beagle's voyage of discovery in 1836. |
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Authors:
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Malcolm Macmillan |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Biography; Historical Article; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of the history of the neurosciences Volume: 18 ISSN: 1744-5213 ISO Abbreviation: J Hist Neurosci Publication Date: 2009 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-04-15 Completed Date: 2009-08-07 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9441330 Medline TA: J Hist Neurosci Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 150-96 Citation Subset: IM; Q |
Affiliation:
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Department Psychology, University of Melbourne,Victoria. 3010, Australia. malcolm.macmillan@unimelb.edu.au |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Australia Evolution* History, 19th Century History, 20th Century Neurophysiology / history Neurosciences / history* Platypus / physiology Psychology / history |
| Personal Name Subject | |
Personal Name Subject:
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Charles Darwin; Alfred Walter Campbell; Grafton Elliot Smith; Stanley David Porteus |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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