Wilder Penfield was a pioneering American-Canadian neurosurgeon renowned for advancing brain surgery techniques. He is best known for developing brain mapping procedures, including creating functional maps of the cerebral cortex, and identifying the cortical homunculus.
Wilder Penfield was born on January 26, 1891, in Spokane, Washington. A distinguished student, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Merton College, Oxford. He later pursued medical training at Johns Hopkins University and continued his internship and research at several prestigious institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Following his time in England, Penfield returned to the United States, securing positions at Columbia University and Presbyterian Hospital in New York City in 1921.
Penfield served as a Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University, where he significantly advanced our understanding of brain function. He, along with collaborators, refined a daring surgical technique inspired by his mentor, German neurologist Otfried Foerster. This approach, later termed the "Montreal Procedure," permitted brain surgeries to be conducted while the patient remained conscious. During these procedures, Penfield electrically stimulated various areas of the brain, allowing patients to report their sensations and experiences in real time.
This method was primarily used to treat severe epilepsy by identifying and removing the areas of the brain responsible for seizures. Through thousands of such operations, Penfield collected substantial data, leading to the creation of detailed functional maps of the cerebral cortex. These maps revealed the organization of sensory and motor functions in the brain, culminating in the concept of the cortical homunculus.
Penfield made another significant discovery related to memory. While stimulating the temporal lobes, some patients reported vivid recollections of past events, suggesting that specific brain regions play a role in memory storage and recall. These observations contributed to a better understanding of the physiological basis of memory and advanced the field of cognitive neuroscience.
Wilder Penfield retired in the early 1960s but remained an influential figure in neurology and neurosurgery. He passed away on April 5, 1976, at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada. His contributions continue to shape modern neurosurgical practices and our comprehension of brain function.
| Birth Date: | 26 Jan, 1891 |
| Age: | 129 yrs |
| Citizenship: | Canada |
| Birth Place: | Spokane |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Canadian neurosurgeon, college football player and coach |
