Santiago Ramon y Cajal and Neuron Doctrine

Abstract

Santiago Ramon y Cajal’s emergence in the world of science has led to a new era in neuroscience. He was the founder of modern neuroscience with the neuron doctrine he revealed. He showed that nervous system was not a continuum network structure as it is believed to that day, but consists of individual cell as in all other tissues. His contribution to modern neuroscience was not limited to the neuron doctrine, he also contributed to neuronal morphology, communication and development. All of these contributions was honored with a shared Nobel Prize Award with Camillo Golgi in 1906, for their studies on the nervous system. Santiago Ramon y Cajal, was a scientist with unusual observation and interpretation talents, who pushed the conditions until the end to access to information and share his findings in the underdeveloped scientific environment of Spain. Besides, he was involved in scientific breakthroughs of his country. Ramon y Cajal was not only a scientist but also a multi-faceted personality; a passionate chess player, gymnast, a very talented painter and photographer.