Penfield's Study of the Interpretive Cortex

Wilder Penfield (1891–1976) was a Canadian neurosurgeon who made groundbreaking discoveries about brain function through his work with epilepsy patients. His research provided some of the most detailed early maps of the brain's surface and led to the discovery of what he called the "interpretive cortex".

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Background

Penfield was a neurosurgeon who treated patients with severe epilepsy that could not be controlled by medication. In these cases, surgery was performed to remove the brain tissue causing the seizures. Before removing any tissue, Penfield needed to identify which areas of the brain controlled important functions (such as speech and movement) to avoid damaging them during surgery.

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Method

Penfield developed a technique of electrically stimulating the surface of the brain during surgery: