In Memory of Leonid Gittik: Academic Readings, Dedicated to the Anniversary of Prominent Ukrainian Scientist

Abstract

Academic readings, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Leonid Gittik, were held in Lutsk, Ukraine between June 8, 2016 and June 10, 2016. Leonid Gittik was a prominent Ukrainian neuroscientist. He graduated from Kharkiv Medical Institute in 1951, and started a career as a neurologist. Later, in 1953 he moved to Lutsk, where he continued to work as a neurologist. He defended his PhD and Doctor of Science theses in 1960 and 1970, respectively. The main area of medical scientific interests of Leonid Gittik were studies of different neurological brain dysfunctions, mainly - chorea. In 1971, he became the first Head of Human and Animal Physiology Department in Lutsk Pedagogical Institute (now - Eastern European National University, Lutsk, Ukraine). Working in this position, he created the Scientific School of Brain Electrical Neurophysiology. The main directions of this school were the studies on brain functional development, differential psychophysiology, brain mechanisms of creativity. Leonid Gittik did his best for providing these studies with the most modern, state-of-the-art methods and techniques, especially - by using electrophysiological equipment, thus creating a leading center of EEG and ERP studies in Ukraine. He died in 2004 on his way from laboratory in EENU to the Neurological Department of Volyn Region Hospital. During his life, Leonid Gittik wrote 282 scientific publications, including 12 monographs and textbooks.