Contributions to the History of Psychology: CXIX. The Spanish Neurohistological School's Legacy: Cajal and Lorente De Nó

Abstract

Santiago Ramón y Cajal made his mark in the history of science as a brilliant researcher of the histology of the nervous system. His bold efforts and the international recognition he received during his lifetime played an important role in the consolidation of the Spanish Neurohistological School which is composed of a large number of eminent disciples. Amongst these, and of outstanding repute, is Rafael Lorente de Nó whose research had a significant influence on the work of Canadian psychololgist Donald O. Hebb and, consequently, on the development of neurophysiological theory. This paper analyses some of the contributions of Cajal and his disciple Lorente de Nó which formed the anatomical and neuropsychological framework of contemporary psychology.

Donald O. Hebb and the Organization of Behavior: 17 years in the writing

“…Hebb cited the work of Lorente de Nó ( [123][124][125][126]) and all of the papers in the 1939 special issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology (volume 2, number 5) on the synapse. Hebb's indebtedness to Lorente de Nó has been discussed by Martinez and Gil [128] and by Haider [50], who points out that Lorente de Nó, Hilgard and Marquis and others whose work influenced Hebb were all at Yale University in the 1940's. In addition, Robert Yerkes who founded the Primate Research Centre in Florida did so under the auspices of Yale University [38].…”