Herbert Mayo (1796-1852): a pioneering neuroanatomist's forgotten legacy

Authors

• Kivanc Yangi, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.Follow
• Arianna S. Gholami, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Doga D. Demir Yangi, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Carlos E. Calderon Valero, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Thomas J. On, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
• Ugur Türe, Department of Neurosurgery, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; and.
• T Forcht Dagi, Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota.
• Mark C. Preul, The Loyal and Edith Davis Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

British anatomical physiology in the early 19th century evolved from the work of William Harvey, Thomas Willis, and William Hunter, who emphasized cerebral functional localization, integrating physiology and anatomy. This novel perspective was championed by Herbert Mayo (1796-1852). A student of Charles Bell at the Middlesex Hospital in London, Mayo subsequently became a surgeon there in 1818 and later a professor of anatomy and surgery. His experiments on the motor functions of the seventh cranial nerve and sensorimotor functions of the fifth cranial nerve brought him renown. Mayo, inspired by Johann Christian Reil, also conducted the first accurate brainstem dissections, developed innovative tissue preservation methods, and provided detailed descriptions of key fiber tracts. Mayo's 1822-1823 Anatomical and Physiological Commentaries and 1827 A Series of Engravings Intended to Illustrate the Structure of the Brain and Spinal Chord in Man accurately depicted the corona radiata, cerebellar peduncles, and uncinate fascicle. In his 1842 book, The Nervous System and Its Functions, Mayo discussed the localization of higher brain functions. His dissections remained unmatched until Josef Klingler's work in 1934. Despite the quality of his work, Mayo has been largely neglected, possibly because of his tumultuous relationship with Bell and later professional difficulties. Nevertheless, Mayo significantly contributed to white matter anatomy and led the search for cerebral localization, subsequently impacting neurosurgery. This article examines his life and work.

Medical Subject Headings

History, 19th Century; Neuroanatomy (history); Humans; History, 18th Century; Neurosurgery (history)

Publication Date

2-1-2026

Publication Title

Journal of neurosurgery

E-ISSN

1933-0693

Volume

144

Issue

2

First Page

488

Last Page

498

PubMed ID

41172369

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3171/2025.7.JNS251058

Recommended Citation

Yangi, Kivanc; Gholami, Arianna S.; Demir Yangi, Doga D.; Calderon Valero, Carlos E.; On, Thomas J.; Türe, Ugur; Dagi, T Forcht; and Preul, Mark C., "Herbert Mayo (1796-1852): a pioneering neuroanatomist's forgotten legacy" (2026). Neurosurgery. 2355.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurosurgery/2355