Luigi galvani invention
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Luigi Galvani and animal electricity: two centuries after the foundation of electrophysiology
Luigi Galvani and his famous experiments on frogs carried out in the second half of the 18th century belong more to legend than to the history of science. Galvani not only laid the foundations of a new science, electrophysiology, but also opened the way for the invention of the electric battery, and thus for the development of the physical investigations of electricity. However, in spite of the widespread celebration of his work, Galvani's scientific endeavours have been largely misrepresented in the history of science. The scholar of Bologna has a stereotyped image as an 'occasional' scientist, who started his studies by chance, largely ignored the scientific theories of his time and wandered aimlessly in mental elaborations until the physicist of Pavia, Alessandro Volta, entered the field, correctly interpreted Galvani's results and eventually developed the electric battery. With the present understanding of electrical phenomena in excitable membranes, it is now time to reconsider t
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Luigi Galvani
The father of electrophysiology, Galvani was the most illustrious Bolognese scientist of the 18th century. Through experimentation on frogs, he studied and grasped the functions of nerves and muscles as conductors and receptors of brain stimuli. His famous quarrel with Alessandro Volta led to a short period of oblivion, after which he rose to become a pillar of anatomy and medical electricity, as well as a “hero” of the newly-formed Italy.
Luigi Galvani was born in Bologna in 1737 to the goldsmith Domenico Galvani and the wealthy Barbara Foschi.
As they had done for his half-brother Francesco, who became a professor of canon law, Luigi’s parents spared no efforts to ensure him an education in the city’s finest schools.
In 1752, he began to frequent the Oratorio dei Filippini, which left him with a strong religious bent, in the vein of enlightened Catholicism, and a deeply humble and moderate manner. Two years later, Galvani enrolled in medicine (1754), a discipline that was undergoing a period of rebirth at the time, in part thanks to the anatomical and s
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Luigi Galvani
Luigi Galvani was born on September 9, 1737 in Bologna, Italy. In his youth, Galvani intended to pursue a theology. Largely due to parental influence, however, when he entered the University of Bologna it was to study medicine. He graduated in 1759 but chose to continue his education at the institution. Galvani received a doctorate in medicine three years later. His thesis focused on the study of the human skeleton and his research primarily was concerned with comparative anatomy. Galvani accepted a position as lecturer at his alma mater following the defense of his thesis. Only a few years later he began teaching obstetrics at the Institute of Sciences as well. By 1772, he gained an appointment as president of the Institute.
In the early 1770s, Galvani began lecturing on the anatomy of the frog and later that same decade initiated experiments employing the basic equipment used for studying electricity at that time, an electrostatic generator for producing an electrical charge and a Leyden jar for storing charge. It was through the accidental overlap of these two
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