Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Current neuroscientists are well aware of many detailed aspects of brain anatomy, functions and mechanisms. But brain-related scripts were written by Egyptians as early as 5000 years ago. Surprisingly, the Egyptians knew so much, that it is easier to ask which of the following they did NOT know?
2. The Egyptians strongly believed in life after death and skillfully mummified their Pharaohs. Their view of the role of the different organs was reflected in the way they prepared them for use in the next life. How was the brain treated in the process of mummification?
3. For the ancients, the heart was the most important organ. This view is well reflected in the Hebrew Bible, in which the blood is related to the soul and the Hebrew word "heart" ("Lev") appears thousands of times. In comparison to the heart, what was the role of the brain according to the Hebrew Bible?
4. Alcmaeon (450 BC) from Croton (in nowadays Italy) was the first to associate the brain with sensations and cognition and to use anatomical dissections for intellectual inquiry. However, many of his conclusions were wrong. He believed that the eyes were made of water and fire (light is not essential for vision, as evidence by the "fire" generated from a blow to the eye). In which century was the “fire in the eyes” idea finally refuted experimentally?
5. In contrast to the school of Alcmaeon that favored dissections, Hippocrates of Cos (425 BC) emphasized detailed observations. He also was against the traditional attribution of divine causes to diseases and located epilepsy in the brain, as well as all sensations and reasoning.
Hippocrates is popularly known for the institution of the Hippocratic Oath, held sacred by doctors all over the world. However, the modern version of the oath differs from the classic one. Which practice was NOT forbidden for physicians according to the classic oath?
6. Our next personality was born in Athens. He was classified by modern historians as “nefarious”, “evil” and “antiscientist” and was considered the most important ideological opponent of natural sciences of all times. His ideas against empirical investigations dominated European philosophy for 16 (!) centuries. Can you identify him?
7. Praxagoras of Cos (300 BC) was the first to describe the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of gray matter of the brain that is responsible for higher functions) to some extent. However, the cortex' functions were only studied in the Museum of Alexandria, founded by the Greek King Ptolemy I.
Significant neurological advancements were made in this wonder of the ancient world, where 100 scientists were paid by the State to research and teach.
What was one of the innovations introduced in the Museum of Alexandria?
8. Systematic research of human anatomy was carried out in Alexandria by Herophilus and Erasistratus (280-250 BC). Again, even when limiting our scope to the brain, it is easier to ask which of the following advancements was NOT achieved through their work?
9. Greek physician Galen (129-200) of Pergamum (in nowadays Turkey), is considered the greatest figure in ancient western medical science. He distinguished sensory from motor nerves and located cognition and sensation not in the heart or brain ventricles (spaces filled with cerebrospinal fluid), but in the brain matter.
Among Galen’s methods were nerves lesions and study of the behavioral alterations. Which is one of his best known experiments?
10. The death of Galen marked the death of ancient brain sciences. Discussions, critics, observations and experiments were replaced by beliefs, dogmas, prays and “scientific” studies of the “divine” world.
Which of the following was NOT part of the central belief for the next 12 (!) centuries?
Source: Author
zanazana
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crisw before going online.
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