author
Thomas Willis
1621–1675
A pioneering 17th-century English physician, he helped lay the groundwork for modern neuroscience through close study of the brain, nerves, and behavior. His name lives on in the “circle of Willis,” one of the best-known structures in anatomy.
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About the author
Born in 1621, Thomas Willis studied at Oxford and built his medical career during and after the English Civil War. He later became a prominent physician in both Oxford and London, and he was also among the founding members of the Royal Society.
Willis is best remembered for transforming the study of the brain and nervous system. His anatomical work, especially on the blood supply of the brain, made him one of the most important early figures in neurology; the arterial ring still known as the circle of Willis bears his name. He also wrote influential medical works that connected anatomy with clinical observation, helping medicine move toward a more careful, evidence-based approach.
Beyond anatomy, Willis took a serious interest in conditions involving the mind and nerves, so his work also touches the early history of psychiatry. Centuries later, he is still seen as one of the key physicians who helped turn the study of the brain into a scientific discipline.