The Rise of Brain Science in Ancient Times

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1. Current neuroscientists are well aware of many detailed aspects of brain anatomy, functions and mechanisms. But brain-related scripts were written by Egyptians as early as 5000 years ago. Surprisingly, the Egyptians knew so much, that it is easier to ask which of the following they did NOT know? Patients should be empirically examined, systematically diagnosed and indicated a treatment The brain controls the movement of the limbs The laterality of a brain injury (left or right side) is related to the laterality of the symptom Injury of different brain regions results in different types of symptoms

2. The Egyptians strongly believed in life after death and skillfully mummified their Pharaohs. Their view of the role of the different organs was reflected in the way they prepared them for use in the next life. How was the brain treated in the process of mummification? It was carefully removed and scarificed to Osiris, the god of the Dead It was removed through an opening in the skull and conserved in jars It was discarded It was treated in the head itself and was left there

3. For the ancients, the heart was the most important organ. This view is well reflected in the Hebrew Bible, in which the blood is related to the soul and the Hebrew word "heart" ("Lev") appears thousands of times. In comparison to the heart, what was the role of the brain according to the Hebrew Bible? It is the site of the Mind It is mentioned nowhere It is the site of the senses It is the site of the moral

4. Alcmaeon (450 BC) from Croton (in nowadays Italy) was the first to associate the brain with sensations and cognition and to use anatomical dissections for intellectual inquiry. However, many of his conclusions were wrong. He believed that the eyes were made of water and fire (light is not essential for vision, as evidence by the "fire" generated from a blow to the eye). In which century was the “fire in the eyes” idea finally refuted experimentally? 1 11 5 18

5. In contrast to the school of Alcmaeon that favored dissections, Hippocrates of Cos (425 BC) emphasized detailed observations. He also was against the traditional attribution of divine causes to diseases and located epilepsy in the brain, as well as all sensations and reasoning. Hippocrates is popularly known for the institution of the Hippocratic Oath, held sacred by doctors all over the world. However, the modern version of the oath differs from the classic one. Which practice was NOT forbidden for physicians according to the classic oath? Sexual relation with patients Abortion Treat patients for a fee Surgery

6. Our next personality was born in Athens. He was classified by modern historians as “nefarious”, “evil” and “antiscientist” and was considered the most important ideological opponent of natural sciences of all times. His ideas against empirical investigations dominated European philosophy for 16 (!) centuries. Can you identify him? Pythagoras Aristotle Plato Socrates

7. Praxagoras of Cos (300 BC) was the first to describe the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of gray matter of the brain that is responsible for higher functions) to some extent. However, the cortex' functions were only studied in the Museum of Alexandria, founded by the Greek King Ptolemy I. Significant neurological advancements were made in this wonder of the ancient world, where 100 scientists were paid by the State to research and teach. What was one of the innovations introduced in the Museum of Alexandria? Electrical stimulations Cataract surgeries Animal dissections Human vivisections

8. Systematic research of human anatomy was carried out in Alexandria by Herophilus and Erasistratus (280-250 BC). Again, even when limiting our scope to the brain, it is easier to ask which of the following advancements was NOT achieved through their work? Localization of the primary visual brain area Correlation of the number of convolutions of the brain with intelligence A detailed and accurate description of the human brain Tracing of the sensory and motor nerves into the brain

9. Greek physician Galen (129-200) of Pergamum (in nowadays Turkey), is considered the greatest figure in ancient western medical science. He distinguished sensory from motor nerves and located cognition and sensation not in the heart or brain ventricles (spaces filled with cerebrospinal fluid), but in the brain matter. Among Galen’s methods were nerves lesions and study of the behavioral alterations. Which is one of his best known experiments? Destruction of one side of the brain of dogs paralyzed the contralateral limbs Section of the optic nerve blinded an ox Section of the recurrent laryngeal nerve eliminated the ability of a pig to vocalize Spinal cord transections of injured gladiators paralyzed their legs

10. The death of Galen marked the death of ancient brain sciences. Discussions, critics, observations and experiments were replaced by beliefs, dogmas, prays and “scientific” studies of the “divine” world. Which of the following was NOT part of the central belief for the next 12 (!) centuries? The brain is a cooling organ of the warm blood The bumps in the cranium reflect the development of the mental faculties Sensations, thoughts and memories are located in the brain ventricles The function of the brain convolutions is to protect delicate blood vessels