Leonardo da Vinci: the search for the soul

The human race has always contemplated the question of the anatomical locat ion of the soul. During the Renaissance the controversy crystallized into t hose individuals who supported the heart ("cardiocentric soul") and others who supported the brain (''cephalocentric soul") as the abode for this elus ive entity. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) joined a long list of other explo rers in the "search for the soul." The method he used to resolve this anato mical problem involved the accumulation of information from ancient and con temporary sources, careful notetaking, discussions with acknowledged expert s, and his own personal search for the truth. Leonardo used a myriad of inn ovative methods acquired from his knowledge of painting, sculpture, and arc hitecture to define more clearly the site of the "senso comune'-the soul. I n this review the author examines the sources of this ancient question, thr knowledge base tapped by Leonardo for his personal search for the soul, an d the views of key individuals who followed him.