ROLANDO, LUIGI Italian Anatomist Born: Turin, Piemonte, July 20, 1773 Died: Turin, Piemonte, April 20, 1831 Highest Degree: M.D., University of Turin, 1793 Positions: 1807-14, University of Sassari; 1814-31, University of Turin

Rolando studied the anatomy and pathology of the brain. He published his findings on the localization of brain functions in 1809 ( Saggio sopra la vera struttura del cervello) before Flourens*. Some of the functions he assigned the various portions of the brain were incorrect, however, and his experiments were inadequately described. Nevertheless, since he steered away from phrenology, did actual experiments on the brain, and used postmortem examinations, his work represents a definite advance in neurophysiology and neuroanatomy. Rolando localized the higher mental functions in the cerebral hemispheres. He attributed brain activity, however, to the movement of the fibers, thought that the white matter of the brain was more important than the gray matter, and localized sensation in the medulla rather than the cerebral cortex. Long before Gustav Fritsch and Eduard Hitzig, Rolando used the new discovery of his countryman Alessandro Volta, the electric pile, to stimulate brain tissue. Noticing that muscular contractions became more vigorous as he moved the electrodes closer to the cerebellum, he concluded, incorrectly, that the cerebellum was the source of nerve energy. The central fissure in each hemisphere of the brain as well as other brain structures have been named after Rolando.

From: Biographical Dictionary of Psychology, by Leonard Zusne; Greenwood Press, 1984