A Neurotech History Series
Imagine remaining awake while a surgeon gently stimulates different parts of your brain with a tiny electrode.
During epilepsy surgery, Canadian neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield asked awake patients to describe what they experienced as he stimulated the cerebral cortex. Different locations produced different sensations, movements, and occasionally vivid memories, allowing him to map the functional organization of the human brain.
Penfield’s work transformed neurosurgery and deepened our understanding of the cortex. Functional brain mapping remains fundamental to neurosurgery, neurostimulation, and modern neurotechnology.
Last Updated on August 5, 2026 | Published: August 5, 2026