The legacy of Frank Morrell

Abstract

Frank Morrell's description of the mirror focus, his detailed research that established the existence of secondary epileptogenesis, and the results of his tireless efforts to demonstrate that some forms of human epilepsy are progressive have changed the way we look at epileptic disorders forever. He exerted considerable influence on early electrophysiological investigations into the fundamental substrates of normal activity dependent brain plasticity and pointed out the important relationships between these normal neuronal process and aberrant plasticity associated with epilepsy. Morrell contributed importantly to the understanding of the basic mechanisms of epilepsy-induced plastic change, and applied these concepts in novel clinical approaches, not only for the diagnosis and treatment of medically refractory epilepsy but also for the prevention of the disabling consequences of recurrent epileptic activity within the brain. The legacy of Frank Morrell, however, does not consist entirely of his illuminating scientific contributions. Perhaps more importantly, Frank Morrell, the man, had a significant influence on those who had the good fortune to work with him, and many who did not, by virtue of his infectious enthusiasm for scientific discovery, his uncanny ability to “break the set” and approach an old problem from a fresh perspective, his delight in the capital that could be made from unexpected results, and his dogged pursuit of unpopular concepts in the face of daunting opposition. Frank Morrell was a scholar, a humanist, and a social activist, qualities that combined to make a scientific role model who was remarkably innovative, who was unafraid to buck the establishment, and who consistently strove to make basic research relevant to the alleviation of human suffering.