Phrenology

An innovative theory

The phrenology is the theory of the neurologist Viennese François Joseph Gall (1757 - 1828) concerning the localization of the cerebral functions in the brain. It stated it in its major work, published in 1820 with Paris: “Anatomy and physiology of the nervous system in general and the brain in particular with observations on the possibility of recognizing several intellectual provisions and morals of the man and the animals by the configuration of their head” .

This theory, remained in the popular memory with the expression “to have the Bump of the maths”, locates the cerebral functions in precise areas of the brain. However the development of the brain influences the shape of cranium. A particularly developed capacity (cheerfulness, causality, benevolence, etc) would thus register its trace on the “chart” which appears on phrenological cranium of Gall.

Gall had the intuition of it by observing the bumps which we all have on the level of the dome of the skull. In fact, they are formed at the time of early childhood, according to the way in which the child is lying.

He attempted to validate his assumption scientifically, by in particular constituting a collection of hundreds of plaster busts, moulded directly on particular subjects: microcephalics, “idiots”, etc Its pupils and itself proposed statistical series to correlate the character traits with the shape of the dome of the skull. These studies however were sullied with skew of selection or interpretation, which one can allot to the imperfection methodology of the time.

Phrenology with the theory of the criminal born

In this time when the systematic one is queen, and in the mobility of phrenology, Cesare Lombroso (1835 - 1909) seeks to find a Association Statistique between the facies and the Mœurs, in particular when they are doubtful. In the Criminal Man (1876), it evokes the primitive forms “” supposed to characterize the vagrancy and the Criminalité.

The theories of Gall as of Lombroso were quickly given up, but the Techniques of measurement of the Human body (Anthropométrie) as regards Legal medicine developed with an aim of Identification.

Most of the collections of Gall is the property of the National company of medicine of Lyon, and is exposed to the Museum Testut Latarjet of Anatomie of Lyon.

Conclusion: the heritage of phrenology

Paul Broca (1824 - 1880) took again on his account the functional location theory, in particular by studying the Aphasie éponyme in traumatic contexts.

Admittedly, phrenology is an error as a whole, but the contribution of Gall to the nervous physiology was of first order. Besides that illustrates the reality of the science, which gropes by assumptions, which can constantly be marked or cancelled, according to the expensive principle with Popper. Today, the techniques of imagery by nuclear magnetic resonance (functional IRM) confirmed its brilliant intuition: the brain consists of functional zones (centers of the word, the sight, etc).

It is also necessary to retain phrenology which it opens the way with the modern Psychiatrie, by anchoring the spirit in the body.

See also

Marc Renneville, the language of the craniums , Plessis-Robinson, Hinderers of thought in round, 2000.

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Museum Testut Latarjet of anatomy of Lyon
  • Biography (in English)

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