A NOTE ON THE EARLY HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION OF THE HUMAN BRAIN

We address inconsistencies in two areas concerning who was first to el ectrically stimulate a human's brain. First, Boring (1950) and others attributed priority to Eduard Hitzig based on information mentioned so mewhat incidentally in Fritsch and Hitzig's (1870) classic work using dogs. Others cited Fritsch and Hitzig but attributed priority to Rober ts Bartholow (1874). Second, our examination of translations of Fritsc h and Hitzig, especially of footnote 16 in Hitzig's report (1870) of a human case, revealed errors, omissions, and inconsistencies. To aid o ur inquiry, we requested and received new translations of footnote 16 and of Hitzig's report.