Clinton Woolsey: functional brain mapping pioneer

Abstract

Dr. Clinton Woolsey was a leading twentieth century neuroscientist for almost four decades. His most significant achievements were the novel use and refinement of evoked potential techniques to functionally map mammalian brains, the discovery of secondary cortical areas, and a wide repertoire of comparative neurofunctional studies across many species. We discuss his life and work through a historical context with contemporaries, highlight the primitive state of brain mapping before Woolsey, and his involvement in advancing its rapid development through work at both Johns Hopkins University and University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Woolsey’s lasting impact on basic and clinical neuroscience, neurosurgery, and neurology and his important roles as a scientific mentor and leader are also described.

Terminal organization of the corticospinal projection from the lateral premotor cortex to the cervical enlargement (C5–T1) in rhesus monkey

“…Kuypers often acknowledged supportive physiological observations reported around the time he developed his descending medial and lateral motor system concepts. This included the findings of Clinton Woolsey, who was one of the most recognized neuroscientists in the field of cortical functional localization (Lyon et al, ; Thompson, ). One of Woolsey's most cited contributions included his surface stimulation findings of motor cortex in the pentobarbital anesthetized monkey preparation (Figure a; Woolsey et al, ).…”