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Thomas Willis (1621-1675): First lines in Neuropsychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Caoimhghin Breathnach
Caoimhghin Breathnach*
Affiliation:
Dept of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University College Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Abstract

Thomas Willis [1621-1675] was not the first to describe the circle of vessels at the base of the brain that bears his name, but it was he who first recognised its functional significance in maintaining cerebral perfusion even after one of its feeding vessels was completely closed. Although Willis made many astute, original clinical observations (concerning myasthenia gravis, paracusis, restless legs syndrome and diabetes mellitus) his reputation suffered because he was an inveterate theorist in an age that frowned on hypotheses. Nonetheless he is now recognised as one of the earliest neuropsychiatrists who attempted to understand and explain mental illness, as he encountered it in his daily practice, in terms of brain dysfunction more than 300 years ago.

Keywords

WillisCircle of WillisNeuropsychiatryDementiaMyasthenia gravisRestless legs syndromeDiabetes mellitus
Type
Historical
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 122 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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