HOLMES,GORDON, THE CORTICAL RETINA, AND THE WOUNDS OF WAR - THE 7TH SNYDER,CHARLES,B. LECTURE

Authors
Citation
Rs. Fishman, HOLMES,GORDON, THE CORTICAL RETINA, AND THE WOUNDS OF WAR - THE 7TH SNYDER,CHARLES,B. LECTURE, Documenta ophthalmologica, 93(1-2), 1997, pp. 9-28
Citations number
50
Categorie Soggetti
Ophthalmology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00124486
Volume
93
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
9 - 28
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-4486(1997)93:1-2<9:HTCRAT>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
By the rum of the 20th century, localization of function in the cerebr al cortex of the brain had advanced considerably, but a relatively vag ue idea only existed that human vision was represented in the vicinity of the calcarine cortex. World War I produced a large number of isola ted missile wounds of the brain. Their study yielded a complete topogr aphical mapping of the visual field in the primary cortical vision cen ter, and is a basis of our modem interpretation of visual fields. This map has been recently modified by MRI studies to show that the magnif ication of the central retinal projection onto the cerebral cortex to be even greater than previously thought. Many names are associated wit h the story of how war led to this knowledge. This essay refers to Har vey Gushing, William Osler, Tatsui Inouye, and most particularly to th e career and contributions of the British neurologist Gordon Holmes.