ABSTRACT
Men ought to know that from the brain, and from the brain only, arise our pleasures, joys, laughter and jests, as well as our sorrows, pains, griefs and tears. Emphasis on brain research suggests that study of the brain is a new phenomenon; however, structures and functions of the brain have been studied by physicians, philosophers, and researchers since earliest times. Prior to the thirteenth century, most physicians were associated with the Church, so doctors applied a mix of religious dogma and medicinal practices to brain injuries and diseases. In the mid-fourteenth century, most serious injuries were not treated, as it was thought humours would be released into the brain, which, being untreatable, would kill the person. The procedures assume that brain function and behavior are causally related and that neuropsychological measurements can identify behavioral deficits related to brain functioning. Neuropsychological measures refer to tasks that examiners administer to patients in a one-on-one setting.
