American Scientist Praises Work at Medical School

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26556, 3 September 1947, Page 6

American Scientist Praises Work at Medical School

A tribute to the facilities for research provided in the University of Otago Medical School, and praise for the scientific workers in that institution, were offered by Dr Chandler McCuskey Brooks, before his departure from Dunedin this week on his return to the United States. Dr Brooks, who is Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, was in Dunedin for almost a year, working in association with Professor J. C. Eccles in the physiology department of the Medical School. In his statement to the Daily Times he outlines the nature of the research in which he has been associated in this period.

“ First I should like to point out the ever increasing necessity of understanding the mechanism of the function of the central nervous system,” Dr Brooks said. “Mental disease is on the increase; psychiatric treatment is being required by an increasing proportion of our peoples and the importance of psychology to the field of education, and the control of human behaviour can no longer be minimised. In order to comprehend the complex functions of the brain and the controlling function of nerves and integrating centres, one' must ultimately deal with the basic processes of excitation and

inhibition which operate to regulate nerve and body activity. These extremely important problems are being dealt with here within Otago's own Medical School. “Much of the integrative action of the nervous centres is due to a combination of excitation and inhibition. We have studied the excitatory and inhibitory process occurring within the central nervous system which control transmission of excitation from one nerve to another across the synaptic junctions of the spinal cord. We have been able to record electrically some of the events involved and to formulate theoretical explanations of the nature of these processes and their cause. Furthermore, we have been able to test the validity of these hypotheses and in addition make certain suggestions concerning the nature of central inhibition, sleep and rhythms of neuron activity. Papers published in American and English journals should form the basis of much further work. “ I do not wish to be quoted,” Dr Brooks added, “as stating that our studies or those conducted by other workers in the physiology laboratory have solved, or are about to solve, the complex problems confronting one who seeks to understand processes such as thought and memory or the causes of mental disease but I do wish to say that helpful contributions have been made and will continue to be made as long as the present favourable working conditions can be maintained within the University of Otago. “During this year I have incurred a debt of gratitude to Professor Eccles, and through him, to the University. Speaking as a scientist, I consider Dr Eccles to be a brilliant investigator, a meticulous and thorough teacher, and a person possessing the highest scientific ideals. Other members of your University community have impressed me likewise as possessing great ability. It would be inappropriate to attempt to mention them all by name. The multitude of New Zealanders Mrs Brooks and I have met personally have been, without exception, extraordinarily considerate, friendly, and kind, Our experiences for the most part have been delightful, 'far exceeding our expectations. This we will remember.”