Theodor Meynert
Encyclopedia
Theodor Hermann Meynert (15 June 1833 - 31 May 1892) was a German-Austrian neuropathologist and anatomist who was born in Dresden
.
In 1861 he earned his medical doctorate, and in 1875 became director of the psychiatric
clinic associated with the University of Vienna
. One of his better known students in Vienna
was Sigmund Freud
, who in 1883 worked at Meynert's psychiatric clinic. Meynert later distanced himself from Freud because of the latter's involvement with practices such as hypnosis
. Meynert also ridiculed Freud's idea of male hysteria. Other famous students of Meynert's were Russian neuropsychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff
(1854-1900), German neuropathologist Carl Wernicke (1848-1905) and Swiss neuroanatomist Auguste-Henri Forel
(1848–1931). Meynert's work was an important influence in the career of German neuropathologist Paul Flechsig
(1847-1929).
Meynert's work was largely focused on brain anatomy, pathology
and histology
, including the mapping of its intricate pathways and topography. He made many contributions involving the study of the cellular architecture of the brain and is often considered to be the founder of cerebral cortex cytoarchitectonics
.
Meynert developed theories in regards to correlations between neuroanatomical
and mental processes. He conceptualized that a coupling between one mental association and its temporal successor as a literal contact between cortical nerve cells linked to one other by nerve fibers, and a series of cortical associations could therefore be construed as being a "train of thought". He also theorized that ideas and memories are to be envisioned as being attached to specific cortical cells. Meynert's aim was to establish psychiatry as an exact science based on anatomy. In his 1884 textbook Psychiatrie. Klinik der Erkrankungen des Vorderhirns, Meynert forewords with the statement:
's (1834-1898) Handbuch der Lehre von den Geweben des Menschen und der Thiere. He has several anatomical structures named after him, including the basal optic nucleus of Meynert, the substantia innominata of Meynert and "Meynert cells", which are solitary pyramidal cells located in the cerebral cortex
near the calcarine fissure
. In 1869 Meynert described the dorsal tegmental decussation
of the left and right tectospinal
and tectobulbar tracts, located in the mesencephalon
(midbrain). This was to become known as Meynert's decussation or fountain decussation.
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
.
In 1861 he earned his medical doctorate, and in 1875 became director of the psychiatric
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
clinic associated with the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
. One of his better known students in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
was Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
, who in 1883 worked at Meynert's psychiatric clinic. Meynert later distanced himself from Freud because of the latter's involvement with practices such as hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
. Meynert also ridiculed Freud's idea of male hysteria. Other famous students of Meynert's were Russian neuropsychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff
Sergei Korsakoff
Sergei Sergeievich Korsakoff was a Russian neuropsychiatrist.Sergei Korsakoff was the first of great Russian neuropsychiatrists. He studied medicine at the University of Moscow, graduated in 1875 and subsequently became physician to "Preobrazhenski" mental hospital. From 1876 to 1879 he gained...
(1854-1900), German neuropathologist Carl Wernicke (1848-1905) and Swiss neuroanatomist Auguste-Henri Forel
Auguste-Henri Forel
Auguste-Henri Forel was a Swiss myrmecologist, neuroanatomist and psychiatrist, notable for his investigations into the structure of the human brain and that of ants. For example, he is considered a co-founder of the neuron theory...
(1848–1931). Meynert's work was an important influence in the career of German neuropathologist Paul Flechsig
Paul Flechsig
Paul Emil Flechsig was a German neuroanatomist, psychiatrist and neuropathologist. He is mainly remembered today for his research of myelinogenesis.-Biography:...
(1847-1929).
Meynert's work was largely focused on brain anatomy, pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
and histology
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
, including the mapping of its intricate pathways and topography. He made many contributions involving the study of the cellular architecture of the brain and is often considered to be the founder of cerebral cortex cytoarchitectonics
Cytoarchitectonics of the cerebral cortex
The cytoarchitectonics of the cerebral cortex is the study of neuronal cell bodies cytoarchitecture in the cerebral cortex of the brain.-History:...
.
Meynert developed theories in regards to correlations between neuroanatomical
Neuroanatomy
Neuroanatomy is the study of the anatomy and organization of the nervous system. In contrast to animals with radial symmetry, whose nervous system consists of a distributed network of cells, animals with bilateral symmetry have segregated, defined nervous systems, and thus we can begin to speak of...
and mental processes. He conceptualized that a coupling between one mental association and its temporal successor as a literal contact between cortical nerve cells linked to one other by nerve fibers, and a series of cortical associations could therefore be construed as being a "train of thought". He also theorized that ideas and memories are to be envisioned as being attached to specific cortical cells. Meynert's aim was to establish psychiatry as an exact science based on anatomy. In his 1884 textbook Psychiatrie. Klinik der Erkrankungen des Vorderhirns, Meynert forewords with the statement:
"The reader will find no other definition of 'Psychiatry' in this book but the one given on the title page: Clinical Treatise on Diseases of the Forebrain. The historical term for psychiatry, i.e., 'treatment of the soul,' implies more than we can accomplish, and transcends the bounds of accurate scientific investigation."Meynert contributed his work concerning the structure of the mammalian brain to Salomon Stricker
Salomon Stricker
Salomon Stricker – 2 April 1898) was an Austrian pathologist and histologist who was born in Waag-Neustadtl, which is now part of Slovakia. He studied at the University of Vienna, and subsequently became a research assistant at the Institute of Physiology under Ernst Wilhelm von Brücke...
's (1834-1898) Handbuch der Lehre von den Geweben des Menschen und der Thiere. He has several anatomical structures named after him, including the basal optic nucleus of Meynert, the substantia innominata of Meynert and "Meynert cells", which are solitary pyramidal cells located in the cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is a sheet of neural tissue that is outermost to the cerebrum of the mammalian brain. It plays a key role in memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. It is constituted of up to six horizontal layers, each of which has a different...
near the calcarine fissure
Calcarine fissure
The calcarine fissure is an anatomical landmark located at the caudal end of the medial surface of the brain. Its name comes from the Latin "calcar" meaning "spur."-Anatomy:...
. In 1869 Meynert described the dorsal tegmental decussation
Decussation
Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing.Examples include:* In the brain, where nerve fibers obliquely cross from one lateral part to the other, that is to say they cross at a level other than their origin...
of the left and right tectospinal
Tectospinal tract
In humans, the tectospinal tract is a nerve pathway which coordinates head and eye movements. It is part of the indirect extrapyramidal tract...
and tectobulbar tracts, located in the mesencephalon
Mesencephalon
The midbrain or mesencephalon is a portion of the central nervous system associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake, arousal , and temperature regulation....
(midbrain). This was to become known as Meynert's decussation or fountain decussation.
Selected written works
- Die Bloßlegung des Bündelverlaufs im Großhirnstamme, 1865
- Der Bau der Großhirnrinde und seine örtliche Verschiedenheiten nebst einem pathologisch-anatomischen Korollarium (The Construction of the Cerebral Cortex and its Local Differences, including a Pathological-Anatomical Corollary), 1868
- Vom Gehirn der Säugetiere (The Brain of Mammals) in Salomon Stricker's Handbuch der Lehre von den Geweben der Menschen und Tiere, 1869
- Klinik der Erkrankungen des Vorderhirns (Clinical Disorders of the Forebrain), 1884
- Klinische Vorlesungen über Psychiatrie (Lectures on Clinical Psychiatry), 1890
External links
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11619863?dopt=Abstract "Theodor Meynert (1833-1892), pioneer and visionary of brain research" by F. Seitelberger, PMID: 11619863
- http://htpprints.yorku.ca/archive/00000122/02/NEUROLOGICAL-ORIGINS2.html The Neurological Origins of Psychoanalysis by Raymond E. Fancher
- http://www.idst.vt.edu/modernworld/d/Freudeval.html Review from Psychological Science Vol. 7, No. 2, March 1996 by Frederick Crews
- Theodor Hermann Meynert @ Who Named ItWho Named ItWho Named It? is an English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though this is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliographies. It is hosted in Norway and maintained by medical...