Page "Cognitive neuroscience" Paragraph 12

In the early 20th century, Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Camillo Golgi began working on the structure of the neuron.

Golgi developed a silver staining method that could entirely stain several cells in a particular area, leading him to believe that neurons were directly connected with each other in one cytoplasm.

Cajal challenged this view after staining areas of the brain that had less myelin and discovering that neurons were discrete cells.

Cajal also discovered that cells transmit electrical signals down the neuron in one direction only.

Both Golgi and Cajal were awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1906 for this work on the neuron doctrine.

The neuron doctrine has ever since provided a fundamental theory for understanding neurophysiology.