Profile of the Day: Wilder Penfield

Wilder Penfield

On this day in 1891, Canadian-American neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield was born. Penfield is best remembered for his pioneering work mapping the human brain and his groundbreaking discovery to treat epilepsy. During his lifetime, Penfield was called “the greatest living Canadian.”

Penfield was born on January 26, 1891 in Spokane, Washington and spent much of his youth growing up in Wisconsin. In 1934, he established the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University. It was there that Penfield began his groundbreaking research that would lead to his discovery of the Montreal Procedure to treat epilepsy.

Before an epileptic seizure, a patient would experience an aura or warning sensation. Penfield had discovered that stimulating certain parts of the brain could evoke memory recall, such as feelings, tastes, or smells. While the patient was awake, Penfield used electric probes to stimulate parts of the brain to evoke the aura to locate the source of the seizure and destroy the problematic nerve cells. The first patient to undergo the procedure famously recalled the smell of burnt toast.

The procedure successfully helped treat many epileptic patients and enable Penfield to map the brain’s sensory and motor functions. His work would revolutionized our understanding of the human brain.

How are you related to Wilder Penfield? Explore his family tree on Geni and share your connection to the groundbreaking neurosurgeon.
 

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Image: Library of Congress