Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) was a famous Swedish religious thinker and mystic He also wrote extensively on brain function Many of his writings on the brain remained unpublished for 100 years or more, none had any effect on the development of neuro science Yet they contain many extraordinary insights that did not recur until late in the 19th century. He was particularly prescient about the functions of the cerebral cortex, the corpus callosum, and the pituitary gland This article reviews Swedenborg's ideas on the brain in the context of 18th century knowledge and considers where they came from and why they were ignored NEUROSCIENTIST 3 142-147, 1997
Vesalius A.De humam corpons fabnca, book 7. Basel: Oponnus1543.
2.
Translated in: Clarke E., O'Malley CDThe human brain and spinal cord. Berkeley: Umversity of California Press1968.
3.
Bartholin T.Anatomia reformata 1656. Translated in: Schiller F. The rise of 'enteroid process' in the 19th century: some landmarks in cerebral nomenclature. Bull Hist Med1965;41:515-538
Translated in: Clarke E., O'Malley CDThe human brain and spinal cord. Berkeley: University of Califorma Press1968.
6.
Meyer A.Historical aspects of cerebral anatomy. London : Oxford University Press1971.
7.
Nordenskiold E.The history of biology. New York: Tudor1928.
8.
Clarke EC, Beam JGThe brain 'glands' of Malpighi elucidated by practical history. J Hist Med Allied Sci1968;23:309.
9.
Gross CGAristotle on the brain. NEUROSCIENTIST1995 ;1:245-250.
10.
Gross CGEarly history of neuroscience. In: Adelman G, editor. Encyclopedia of neuroscience. Vol. 2. Boston: Birkhauser1987;843-846.
11.
Willis T.Cerebn anatome. London: Martyn and Allestry1664.
12.
Translated in: Pordage S.Dr. Willis's practice of physick. London : Dnng1684
13.
Neuburger M.The historical development of experimental brain and spinal cord physiology before Flourens. [Clarke E, trans.]. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University1981. Onginally published m 1897.
14.
Jonsson I.Emanuel SwedenborgNew York. Twayne1971
15.
Toksvig S.Emanuel Swedenborg. New Haven: Yale University Press1848.
16.
Transactions of the international Swedenborg congress. London: The Swedenborg Society1911 .
17.
Wilkinson J.Emanuel Swedenborg: a biography. Boston: Otis Clapp1849.
18.
Tafel RL, editor. Documents concerning the life and character of Emanuel Swedenborg. 3 vols. London: Swedenborg Society1877.
19.
Swedenborg E.De anima. London: Newberry1849.
20.
[Sewall F, trans. The soul or rational psychology. New York : New Church1887].
21.
Swedenborg E.Oeconomia regni ammalis. 2 vols. London: Franc1740-1741.
22.
[Clissold A, trans. The economy of the animal kingdom. London : W. Newberry1845- 1846].
23.
Swedenborg E.Regnum animate. 2 vols. The Hague: Blyvenburg1744-1745.
24.
[Wilkmson JJG, trans. The animal kingdom. London: Newberry1843-1844.]
25.
Swedenborg E.The brain considered anatomically, physiologically and philosophically. 2 vols. [RL Tafel, trans.] London: Speirs1982, 1987.
26.
Swedenborg E.Three transactions on the cerebrum. 2 vols. [A Acton, trans.] Philadelphia : Swedenborg Scientific Association1938, 1940.
27.
Swedenborg E.Psychological transactions. [Acton A, trans .] Philadelphia: Swedenborg Scientific Association1922.
Squires AWEmanuel Swedenborg and the cerebrospinal fluid. Ann Med Hist1940;2:52-53.
30.
Akert K., Hammond MPEmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) and his contribution to neurology. Med Hist1962;2:255-266.
31.
Retzius G.The principles of the minute structure of the nervous system as revealed by recent investigations. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci1908;80:414-443.
Ramstrom M.Emanuel Swedenborg's m-vestigations in natural science and the basis for his statements concerning the functions of the brain. Uppsala : University of Uppsala1910.
34.
Ramstrom M.Swedenborg on the cerebral cortex as the seat of psychical activity . In: Transactions of the International Swedenborg Congress . London: The Swedenborg Society1911 .
35.
Novak B.American painting of the 19th Century. New York : Praeger1969.
36.
Wilkinson J.Swedenborg's economy of the animal kingdom . London: Walton and Mitchell1846.
37.
Review of Swedenborg E. Regnum animale. Vol. 1. The Hague: Blyvenburg1744-1745.
38.
[Wilkmson JJG, trans. The animal kingdom. London: Newberry1843. In: The Athenaeum Jan 20, 1844.]
39.
Combe G.Lectures on phrenology. New York: Fowlers and Wells1852.
40.
Bush G.Mesmer and Swedenborg or the relation of the developments of mesmer-ism to the doctrines of disclosures of Swedenborg. New York : John Allen1847.
41.
Gross CGHow inferior temporal cortex became a visual area. Cereb Cortex1994; 5:455-469.
42.
Rabagliati A.Review. Swedenborg E. The brain considered anatomically, physiologically and philosophically. London : Speirs1982, 1987 ;
43.
Brain1883;6:404-413 and 1888 ;10:512-524.
44.
Foster M.Lectures on the history of physiology during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries . Cambridge: Cambndge1901.
45.
Soury, J.Le systeme nerveux central, structure et fonctions. 2 vols. Pans: G. Carre and E. Naud1899 .
46.
Neuberger M.Swedenborg's Beziehungen zur Gehirnphysiologie . Wien Med Wochenschr1901;51:2077-2081.
47.
Norrving B., Sourander P.Emanuel Swedenborg's theories on the structure and function of the nervous system. In: Rose FC, editor. Neuroscience across the century. London: Smith-Gordon1989.
48.
Mayr E.The growth of biological thought. Cambndge: Harvard University Press1982.
49.
Olmstead EHHistorical phases in the influence of Bernard's scientific generalizations in England and Amenca. In: Grande F, Visscher MB, editors. Claude Bernard and experimental medicine. Cambridge (MA): Schenkman1967.
