Pioneers in research on the behavioral sequelae of head injury

Abstract

This paper reviews the historical development of clinical reports and research concerning the neurobehavioral sequelae of head injury. Early observations of neurologic features by surgeons are discussed as are reports of amnesia and aphasia following head injury. Clinicians and investigators of the 19th century debated the cause of postconcussional symptoms, while penetrating wounds of the brain sustained by combatants during World War I provided an opportunity for studying the effects of localized lesions. The paper focuses on the contributions of five investigators during the 20th century whose work advanced our understanding of posttraumatic neurobehavioral disorders and influenced the research methodology of modem neuropsychology.