- Gall, Franz Joseph
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born March 9, 1758, Tiefenbronn, Badendied Aug. 22, 1828, Paris, Fr.German anatomist and physiologist, founder of phrenology.Convinced that mental functions reside in specific brain areas and determine behaviour, he assumed that the skull surface reflected development of these areas. The first concept was proved correct when Paul Broca located the brain's speech centre in 1861. The second was invalidated when it was found that the skull's thickness varies, so its shape does not reflect the brain's. Gall was the first to identify gray matter with active tissue (nerves) and white matter with conducting tissue.
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▪ German anatomist and physiologistborn March 9, 1758, Tiefenbronn, Baden [Germany]died Aug. 22, 1828, Paris, Fr.German anatomist and physiologist, a pioneer in ascribing cerebral functions to various areas of the brain (localization). He originated phrenology, the attempt to divine individual intellect and personality from an examination of skull shape.Convinced that mental functions are localized in specific regions of the brain and that human behaviour is dependent upon these functions, Gall assumed that the surface of the skull faithfully reflects the relative development of the various regions of the brain. His popular lectures in Vienna on “cranioscopy” (called phrenology by his followers) offended religious leaders, were condemned in 1802 by the Austrian government as contrary to religion, and were banned. Three years later he was forced to leave the country.His concept of localized functions in the brain was proved correct when the French surgeon Paul Broca demonstrated the existence of a speech centre in the brain (1861). It was also shown, however, that, since skull thickness varies, the surface of the skull does not reflect the topography of the brain, invalidating the basic premise of phrenology. Gall was the first to identify the gray matter of the brain with active tissue (neurons) and the white matter with conducting tissue (ganglia).* * *
Universalium. 2010.
