Alfred Reginald Allen: The mythic career of a gifted neuroscientist

Physiopathologie de la douleur neuropathique : revue des modèles expérimentaux et des mécanismes proposés

“…Reginald Allen fut en 1911 le premier à décrire un modèle de contusion spinale par lâchage d'un poids calibré sur la moelle de chiens, préalablement mise à jour par une laminectomie [42]. Plus de 15 modèles différents de contusion ont été développés depuis [43].…”

A brief history of therapy for traumatic spinal cord injury

“…In 1911 the neurologist Alfred Reginald Allen made his lasting and influential mark in the study and treatment of SCI. 4,16 Allen was born in Pennsylvania, the descendant of English Quakers. He inherited a rich capacity for music and mathematics, and possessed a great intellectual curiosity that would inspire him throughout his career.…”

“…He inherited a rich capacity for music and mathematics, and possessed a great intellectual curiosity that would inspire him throughout his career. 16 He at-…”

“…His major achievements were in the study of spinal trauma, between 1908 and 1914. 16 Allen developed a research model for experimental SCI, using graded weights. This model was reproducible, quantifiable, and induced standardized lesions (Fig.…”

“…10). 16 For the first time, it was possible to accurately vary the force applied to the spinal cord and correlate that with clinical and pathological findings in the cord. Allen's weight drop technique, with some modifications (Tarlov, Gelfan, and Amako) remains the basis by which experimental lesions are created today.…”