On the origins of organology: Franz Joseph Gall and a girl named Bianchi

Franz Joseph Gall (1758–1828) introduced a new theory of mind and brain at the end of the eighteenth century, which he referred to as organology, dealing with mental functions and their cortical localizations. Gall wrote that observations regarding the verbal learning capacities of his schoolmates b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cortex 2017-01, Vol.86, p.123-131
Main Authors: Eling, Paul, Finger, Stanley, Whitaker, Harry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain Mapping - history
Craniology
Craniology - history
Franz Joseph Gall
Gall
History, 19th Century
Humans
Localization of function
Music
Organology
Phrenology
Psychophysiology - history
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Summary:Franz Joseph Gall (1758–1828) introduced a new theory of mind and brain at the end of the eighteenth century, which he referred to as organology, dealing with mental functions and their cortical localizations. Gall wrote that observations regarding the verbal learning capacities of his schoolmates brought about his new way of thinking. This widely accepted view, however, requires qualification. Although Gall's experiences and observations as a schoolboy were relevant, especially for his craniology, these childhood memories might have been recalled and reinterpreted after he had started to think about the faculties of mind—specifically after he had met Bianchi, a 5-year-old girl with a special talent for music.
ISSN:0010-9452
1973-8102
DOI:10.1016/j.cortex.2016.11.010