Instituto Edumed
DEMO
History of Neuroscience
Lecture II
The Discovery of
Bioelectricity
Changing the Paradigm
Physics Discovers Eletricity
• William
Gilbert and
magnetism
1600
Physics Discovers Electricity
• Static
electricity
• First
generators
and
capacitors
Franz Anton Mesmer
• “Animal
Magnetism”
• Use in cures,
hypnosis
Animal Electricity
Luigi Galvani
1791
First
experiments
stimulating
nerves and
muscles
Electrical Stimulation
Alessandro Volta
Alexander von Humboldt
1797
Definitive
evidence for
animal
electricity
Technical Advances
Eletrometers and Galvanometers