Neurology in Genoa : a tour of neuroscience in Europe

In 1593, the Magistrate of hospitals for the incurable in Genoa decided to allocate two beds for “mente capti seu furiosi pauperese et miserabilis”, later the number of beds increased reaching the number of 50 in 1627. In 17th century in Genoa the alienated were considered patients and admitted in a small ward. In 1841, after the French revolution was inaugurated the mental institution with the application of rational criteria for the admission of patients affected by neuro-psychiatric diseases. In Genoa, the separation between Psychiatry and Neurology was realized by neuro-psychiatrist Enrico Morselli (1852-1929). He contributed for the foundation of the Italian Society of Neurology in 1907 and he was one of the first Presidents from 1909 to 1911. He promoted the building of the Neurology Clinic that was inaugurated in 1933 by Ugo Cerletti (1877-1963) that was appointed chair of the clinic. He is famous for the invention of the electroshock. He began his experiment in electricity and created different activities of research. When Cerletti moved to Rome Lionello De Lisi (1885-1957) succeeded as head of the Neurology department. He was a multifaceted man with interest in neurology and art. He gave important contributions on aphasia, Wilson’s disease and progressive muscular atrophy. In 1949, he founded the journal “Sistema Nervoso” (“Nervous System”), that ceased the publication in 1970. After the death of De Lisi became head of the clinic Cornelio Fazio (1910-1997), that permitted the creation of the Neuroscience department, focusing on neurophysiology. Fazio moved to Rome and was appointed Chair of Neurology Carlo Walter Loeb (1921-2005) who promoted the study on dementia and vascular disease. He stimulated the study in neurophysiology describing the “alpha coma”. The story of Neuroscience in Genoa is part of a project promoted by Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) for the development and census of libraries, archives, museum in Europe entitled European Brain Museum (EBM). The aim is to preserve of European Neuroscience by making available to the wide public electronic materials on European neuroscientists or important historical events.