Five discoveries of Volodymyr Betz. Part one. Betz and the islands of entorhinal cortex

Abstract

in the series of publications, which this article opens, we consider five fundamental neuromorphological observations of our compatriot, the classic of world neuroscience, Volodymr Betz. For four of them, we demonstrate the status of discoveries for the first time, for the other one — the giant pyramidal neurons of the motor cortex — despite its widespread and long-standing recognition, we reveal the limitations of modern knowledge and ideas. Two of the mentioned observations — giant fusiform, or spindle-shaped neurons of the cingulate and insular cortex and islands of the entorhinal cortex — are currently known only to a narrow circle of specialists; to the others two, islands of Calleja and signs of the columnar cortex organization, we pay attention for the first time. In this, the initial part of the series, exposing modern apprehensions about the structure and functions of the entorhinal cortex, we demonstrate the weight of Betz's pioneering observation of extraordinary neuron clusters, which are nowadays known as entorhinal islands, and prove the fact of recognizing his historical priority in the description of these amazing brain structures.