1874.] On the Localization of Function in the Brain. 229 



The Presents received were laid on the table, and thanks ordered for 

 them. 



The following Paper was read : 



" The Localization of Function in the Brain/' By DAVID 

 FERRIER, M.A., M.D., M.R.C.P., Professor of Forensic 

 Medicine, King's College, London. Communicated by J. 

 BURDON SANDERSON, M.D., F.R.S., Professor of Practical 

 Physiology in University College. Received February 20, 



1874. 



(Abstract.) 



The chief contents of this paper are the results of an experimental 

 investigation tending to prove that there is a localization of function in 

 special regions of the cerebral hemispheres. 



In a former paper published by the author in the 'West Biding 

 Lunatic Asylum Medical Reports,' vol. iii. 1873, the results w r ere given 

 of experiments on rabbits, cats, and dogs, made specially for the purpose 

 of testing the theory of Hughlings Jackson, that localized and unilateral 

 epilepsies are caused by irritation or " discharging lesions " of the grey 

 matter of the hemispheres in the region of the corpus striatum. Besides 

 confirming Hughlings Jackson's views, the author's researches indicated 

 an exact localization in the hemispheres of centres, or regions, for the 

 carrying out of simple and complex muscular movements of a definite 

 character, and described by him as of a purposive, or expressional, nature. 



Facts were also recorded tending to show that other regions of the 

 brain were connected with sensory perception, but no localization was 

 definitely arrived at. 



Among the experiments now related are some in further confirmation 

 and extension of those already made on cats, dogs, and rabbits, as well 

 as a new series of experiments on other vertebrates. In particular, 

 numerous experiments on monkeys are described, for the purpose of 

 which the author received a grant of money from the Council of the 

 Royal Society. In addition, the results of experiments on jackals, 

 guineapigs, rats, pigeons, frogs, toads, and fishes are narrated. 



The method of investigation consists in the application of the stimulus 

 of an induced current of electricity directly to the surface of the brain 

 in animals rendered only partially insensible during the process of explo- 

 ration, complete anaesthesia annihilating all reaction. It is supplemented 

 by the method of localized destructive lesions of the hemispheres. 



Special attention is called to the precision with which a given result 

 follows stimulation of a definite area so much so, that when once the 

 brain has been accurately mapped out, the experimenter can predict with 

 certainty the result of stimulation of a given region or centre. The 

 theory that the phenomena are due not to excitation of cortical centres, 

 but to conduction of the electric currents to basal ganglia and motor 



T2 



