The Birth of Modern Neuroscience in Turin

Abstract

This book is a journey in space and time to discover and rediscover famous and lesser known aspects of the birth of modern neuroscience in Turin, from the pre-Enlightenment to the 1980s. From the anatomical drawings by Luigi Rolando to Cesare Lombroso’s controversial stances, from Giulio Bizzozero and Aldo Perroncito’s histological works to Ernesto Lugaro’s contributions to neurology and psychiatry. Also discussed are Angelo Mosso’s pioneering “neuroimaging” experiments, the role of Federico Kiesow in the development of experimental psychology in Europe, the first neurological movies by Camillo Negro and the works and influence of Giuseppe Levi, who mentored three Nobel Laureates, including Rita Levi-Montalcini, who discovered the Nerve Growth Factor. By analyzing the cultural and scientific environment, the pioneering contributions of neuroscientists from Turin and working in Turin and how they shaped the Italian, European, and global community are critically assessed. It is time to put Turin back at the center of the worldwide neuroscience map.