From axon to mind: Letters of a comparative neuroanatomist and a neurophysiologist.
Journal of the history of the neurosciences January 1, 2026 Brendan P Lucey
In the mid-twentieth century, comparative neuroanatomist C. Judson Herrick and neurophysiologist George Bishop corresponded about the relationship between brain structure and consciousness. Herrick analyzed how increasing structural complexity across species corresponded with more complex behavior. Bishop advanced understanding of nerve fiber function through his work on nerve action potentials. Together they explored how older, primitive brain structures facilitate higher functions and emphasized the interconnectedness of brain regions. Their dialogue did not resolve how brain structure produces complex behaviors but highlighted the importance of evolutionary and comparative perspectives in understanding brain function.