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Herbert Henri Jasper (1906 – 1999): An Appreciation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

William Feindel
William Feindel*
Affiliation:
Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal
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Abstract

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Herbert Henri Jasper dedicated his life to studies of the brain in relation to the mind and behavior. He pioneered the application of the electroencephalogram (EEG) for the study of the electrical activity of the brain and used this technique in studies of consciousness, learning and particularly the examination of epileptic discharge. He utilized microelectrode recordings from single brain cells and combined this technique with microchemical analyses to study cortical and sub-cortical activity. He added substantially to our understanding of brainstem and thalamic reticular formations in conditions of consciousness and in relation to petit-mal epilepsy. His work with Wilder Penfield and associates over a quarter century elucidated the mechanisms of epilepsy and added to our understanding of the functional anatomy of the human brain. An enthusiastic and able organizer, Herbert Jasper was responsible for many international conferences on brain science and worked tirelessly to develop international collaboration among investigators of the nervous system, being one of the founders of the International Brain Research Organization and the Society for Neuroscience. His prodigious contributions in basic and clinical research will be recognized by the world community of brain science for years to come.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Herbert Henri Jasper a consacré sa vie à l’étude du cerveau et à sa relation avec la conscience et le com- portement. Il fut le pionnier de l’électroencéphalogramme (EEG) servant à l’étude de l’activité cérébrale électrique et a employé cette technique dans différentes études sur la conscience, l’apprentissage et particulièrement la com- préhension des décharges épileptiques. Il a utilisé les données captées par micro-électrodes à partir cellules indi- viduelles du cerveau et a combiné cette technique à des analyses micro-chimiques influencées par l’activité corticale et sub-corticale. Il fut d’une aide considérable à notre compréhension des formations réticulaires du cerveau dans le conscient et concernant l’épilepsie surnommée petit-mal. Son travail de recherche avec Wilder Penfield et ses asso- ciés pendant plus d’un quart de siècle a élucidé les mécanismes de l’épilepsie et a contribué à une meilleure con- naissance du fonctionnement et de l’anatomie du cerveau humain. Un organisateur d’expérience et démontrant tou- jours de l’enthousiasme, Herbert Jasper a été responsable de plusieurs conférences internationales sur la science du cerveau et a travaillé inlassablement à développer une collaboration internationale entre rechercheurs sur le système nerveux, étant lui-même l’un des fondateurs de International Brain Research Organization and Society for Neuroscience. Sa prodigieuse contribution à la recherche clinique sera reconnue par le monde de la science sur le cerveau pour des années à venir.

Type
In Memoriam
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , November 1999 , pp. 224 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 1999

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