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A history of neurology.The history of the reflex action.

A history of neurology.: The history of the reflex action. As soon as the nervous system is conceived as instrumental in animal life, i.e., movements and sensations, the idea of reflex action takes shape in man's mind—as the design of a direct and immediate (motor) response to a given (sensory) experience. It is surprising that so much time, and so many observational and experimental efforts were needed for the precise and final formulation of the preconceived idea that, at first, emerged in physiological terms to receive its neuroanatomical equipment as late as in the nineteenth century. One wonders whether this equipment meant any fundamentally new contribution to the early concept of reflex action, the terms "incoming" and "outgoing" pathways simply restating in neuroanatomical terms impressions or stimulations, in brief, sensory experiences, reaching the organism from the outer world and the movements by which the organism reacts to the former. There remains the synapse as the mediating structure, embodying in an almost schematic fashion the model or structural criterion of a central nervous system. Leonardo recognized the function of pupillary reaction for admitting proportionally more light in dark conditions and less light in bright conditions. However, to the Arabian physician, Rhazes, must go the prior credit for writing that the pupil reacts as it "feels the need for light." As a rule, Descartes is credited with the first enunciation of reflex action. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A history of neurology.The history of the reflex action.

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Publisher
MD Publications
Copyright
Copyright © 1959 American Psychological Association
Pages
63 –72
DOI
10.1037/14206-003
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

As soon as the nervous system is conceived as instrumental in animal life, i.e., movements and sensations, the idea of reflex action takes shape in man's mind—as the design of a direct and immediate (motor) response to a given (sensory) experience. It is surprising that so much time, and so many observational and experimental efforts were needed for the precise and final formulation of the preconceived idea that, at first, emerged in physiological terms to receive its neuroanatomical equipment as late as in the nineteenth century. One wonders whether this equipment meant any fundamentally new contribution to the early concept of reflex action, the terms "incoming" and "outgoing" pathways simply restating in neuroanatomical terms impressions or stimulations, in brief, sensory experiences, reaching the organism from the outer world and the movements by which the organism reacts to the former. There remains the synapse as the mediating structure, embodying in an almost schematic fashion the model or structural criterion of a central nervous system. Leonardo recognized the function of pupillary reaction for admitting proportionally more light in dark conditions and less light in bright conditions. However, to the Arabian physician, Rhazes, must go the prior credit for writing that the pupil reacts as it "feels the need for light." As a rule, Descartes is credited with the first enunciation of reflex action. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Published: Mar 11, 2013

Keywords: history of psychology; neurology; neuroanatomy; reflex action

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