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Imagining the brain cell: the neuron in visual culture

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 7, pages 745–752 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Images of the exquisitely formed apparatus of the nervous system have great potential to capture the imagination. However, the fascinating complexity and diversity of neuronal form has only rarely been celebrated in broader visual culture. We discuss how scientific and cultural practices at the time of the neuron's discovery generated a legacy of schematic and simplified popular neuronal imagery, which is only now being revised in the light of technological advances and a changing artistic climate.

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Figure 1: The historical origin of the 'typical' neuron.
Figure 2: The history of neuronal visualization.
Figure 3: Illustrations of the neuron: past to present.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Medical Research Council Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, 4th floor New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK

    Richard Wingate

  2. the Department of the History of Art and the Centre for Visual Studies, University of Oxford, Littlegate House, 16–17 St Ebbe's, Oxford, OX1 1PT, UK

    Marius Kwint

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  1. Richard Wingate
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  2. Marius Kwint
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Correspondence to Richard Wingate.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Wingate, R., Kwint, M. Imagining the brain cell: the neuron in visual culture. Nat Rev Neurosci 7, 745–752 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1973

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