Several major developments in the study of behavioral neuroscience occurred in the 20th century.
1. New methods for determining learning and memory in humans and animals
2. Conditioning in animals
3. Removed pieces of animal brains to determine where learning and memory occurred 
4. Connectivity and organization of neurons 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

New York University

- Renaissance scientists began to understand brain anatomy
- The concept of localization of function arose in the nineteenth century
- Modern Behavioral Neuroscience arose in the 20th century
- The Problem of Consciousness

The History of Research on the Brain and Behavior

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

- Leonardo da Vinci: studied the workings of the human body and laid the foundations of anatomical drawing.

- René Descartes: wrote an influential book (De Homine [On Man]) in which he tried to explain how the behavior of animals, and to some extent the behavior of humans, could be like the workings of a machine.

Renaissance Scientists Began to Understand Brain Anatomy

In the 19th century, scientists localized brain regions using phrenology. Phrenology is the belief that the size and shape of the bumps on the skull indicate an individual's mental abilities and character. The theory is outdated as it was proven to be incorrect.

The concept of localization of function arose in the nineteenth century

Modern Behavioral Neuroscience arose in the 20th century

- Thomas Willis: convinced educated people in the Western world that the brain is 
the organ that coordinates and controls behavior with his 
detailed descriptions of the structure of the human brain and his systematic study 
of brain disorders.

- Paul Broca: believed language expression is mediated by this specific brain region rather than reflecting activities of the entire brain.
- William James: his book Principles of Psychology signaled the beginnings of a 
modern approach to behavioral neuroscience.

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