Uncovering the brain's biggest secret - Melanie E. Peffer

Explore how a scientist and artist discovered how our brains transmit signals throughout the body, and laid the foundation for modern neuroscience.
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In the 1860s, scientists believed they were on the verge of uncovering the brain’s biggest secret: how the brain’s signals travel through the body. They believed these impulses travelled uninterrupted along a massive web of tissue. But soon, a young artist would cut down this hypothesis, and sketch a bold new vision of how our brains work. Melanie E. Peffer details the discoveries of Golgi and Cajal.
Lesson by Melanie E. Peffer, directed by Artrake Studio.
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Keep Learning
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-artist...
Dig deeper with additional resources: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-artist...
Animator's website: www.artrake.com/
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Eduardo Briceño, Christophe Dessalles, Heather Slater, Yuh Saito, Fabian Amels, Sandra Tersluisen, Zhexi Shan, Bárbara Nazaré, Josh Engel, Andrea Feliz, Victor E Karhel, Sydney Evans, Latora Slydell, Noel Situ, emily lam, Sid, Jordan Tang, Kent Logan, Alexandra Panzer, Declan Manning, varun, Cindy Flores, Anantha RamaKrishnan, Javier Aldavaz, Ivan Yeung, Jaime Camacho, Irene Au, Shannon Lee, Роман Валесюк, LunarQueen, Iza, Brian Elieson, Paul, Grayson Garbarino, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Stefano Esposito, Jan M. Brandt, Harshal, Nevin Spoljaric, Christine, Yvonne Feijoo, Sid Chanpuriya, Arjay Arcinue Dineros, RAD, Anoom Yasmin, Laura Johnson, Anoop Varghese and David Yastremski.

[@ind0266]

When you want to be an artist but you also like science.

[@muhammadabdulrehman1540]

When you want to be a scientist but you also like art.

[@sreejasrivaram8250]

Exactly what I want to be.....

[@aliasmalte7463]

Better than want to be an artist but also like worldwars...

[@okaywhynot4728]

you simply ✨👑 win 👸🏻the nobel peace prize ✨in medicine 😌✨👑

[@StrikEagle1379]

Let's see how many subcribers I can get from this VERY INTERESTING comment. Currently:12

[@thirua.1964]

Our brains studies about itself and knows that it studies about itself...

[@ghostderazgriz]

mhm, it's called being self aware.

[@TheDJSyaheer]

And it knows that it knows about it studying itself

[@inaians]

Pass that blunt

[@user-lf8qu9un8y]

Bro.....

[@asimocloud5736]

333 likes bruh

[@justonlyalta]

Don't forget that *Leonardo Da Vinci* was know for painting, drawing, sculpting, science, engineering, architecture and anatomy.

[@ilickcatnip]

Yup, he was *Da* man.

[@adityashukla2635]

He was also a Pokemon trainer

[@monochromeart7311]

he was also a Mutant Teenage Ninja Turtle

[@burntye8795]

He was friends with Ezio Auditore Da Lalala

[@friend6405]

He was also an avenger

[@SnoopyDoofie]

So if the Golgi apparatus was named after a guy named Golgi, I take it that mitochondria was named after some guy named Steve Mitochondria.

[@theowleyes07]

Hehehehe

[@kumarvikramaditya9636]

Camillo golgi

[@helenavilla8867]

No, it's Carl Benda who named the mitochondria The name mitochondria is derived from the greek *mitos* meaning thread And *chondrion* meaning a grain.. Don't r/woosh me bcus i know hes jokin

[@chayamandel]

@@helenavilla8867 thanks for the factoid!

[@Mr_Jester980]

@@helenavilla8867 So basically, "Thread Grain".

[@giahypham4111]

This video has strong “I like arts but my parents are Asian” energy.

[@Bas_tet]

Ken Jeong

[@sundar6568]

How about Indian.

[@dashataran3780]

@@sundar6568 india is in Asia u dumbo

[@CyberMinkk]

Is this me lmaoo. Asian med student that also do art commisions 🥲.

[@yashnatiwari5484]

Lmaaaoooooo this made me laugh so bad😂

[@katowo6521]

0:20 Omg that question mark face is genious

[@absoluteatrocity5322]

It is but do you really think it is genius??

[@blueberrychocolate4238]

“However his massive collection of drawing supported his hypothesis from every angle.” I see what you did there.

[@muhammadabdulrehman1540]

?

[@abidurrahman4641]

Think you're stretching it XD

[@AR-Rehman98]

3 Abdur rehmans in a row

[@PabloEmanuel96]

What did he do?

[@ooghaboogha4362]

@@AR-Rehman98 that's cool

[@blueeye2281]

Dad: You will become a doctor! Mom: No! You will become an artist! This was your grandpa's last wish! This hybrid: What about a Nobel Prize with both?

[@harshitarao2225]

Both... both are good

[@manya7934]

This video just re-sparked my wish of becoming a Singer while also studying neurosciences 😭😅

[@vanessameow1902]

You can do it!

[@manya7934]

@@vanessameow1902 thnkyu soo much.... Amen!!!😄

[@ForteExpresso]

You can listen to Grimes singing, it's like Meditation

[@DefnitelyNotFred]

Whoop whoop, raise the roof with some knowledge tunes! 📖🎶

[@melissagonzalez520]

@@vanessameow1902 I actually know one, but she’s a plastic surgeon and a singer

[@gg1k]

"so how were these individual cells transmitting electrical signals" yeeting chemicals at eachother prob

[@robbieaulia6462]

Technically everything is chemical, so if I yeet a bomb at you, I am yeeting a specific group of chemicals

[@hydrogenperoxide7244]

LMAO

[@alchemist6819]

@@robbieaulia6462 yep

[@annsmahboob3495]

Ah medicine my passion, art my kryptonite! I am going to enjoy this video.

[@thomasmax3413]

You want to be fumus and Rich contract ground master of brotherhood

[@nerimed9617]

Cajal's work was so important, they named a type of brain cell after him.

[@PassionateHooman]

And also Interstitial cell of Cajal in stomach, I guess

[@kateclark7250]

Maybe it was good that nothing was named after my fiance, the biologist. The Lipschitz Cell ..

[@abdellatif8377]

The horizontal cell in the cerebral cortex

[@samimas4343]

Damn living people being attached to living brains.

[@marinarosario8855]

My thoughts exactly. But, have you ever doubted the existence of living brains in living people?

[@samimas4343]

@@marinarosario8855 Minds are different than brains and they are outside or not a part of your brain although they are connected.

[@1000jamesk]

@@samimas4343 Prove it.

[@Muttsitter]

@@samimas4343 what about brain cells living in brain and there are more cells inside of the cell that live inside of that cell and there are even smaller cells living in that cell

[@pranaypallavtripathi2460]

This is probably the best comment in the whole comments section

[@ARS1508]

Sometimes I think if I would have been a better student had KZbin been this big in my education years ❤️

[@akashbavishi6615]

Exactly bt better learning late than never

[@ARS1508]

@@akashbavishi6615 true ✨

[@fearsomefawkes6724]

I am a worse student (because youtube is distracting) but I have a wider breadth of knowledge because I'm able to learn from more people

[@ahmedjameel2423]

Absolutely

[@ghostderazgriz]

probably not to be honest. If anything I'd be a more restless student because I know I actively learn outside the classroom.

[@xeroxsaw1303]

As a Spaniard, I’m glad you talked about one of our most important scientists we’ve ever had, sadly a dying breed in our country these days

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

😔🤗

[@exiledeve]

Oh, they're not a dying breed at all, just emigrating to greener pastures where their work and knowledge are more appreciated.

[@xeroxsaw1303]

@@exiledeve Exactly, all because of insufficient funding and an overall lack of interest from the part of our government towards the ones who have done so much for humanity

[@user-lf8qu9un8y]

Spain still has some of the most advanced sciences in the world.

[@shreshbhattacharyya9290]

Don't worry man you have had some good scientists, and every nation is known for different things, all over the world(here from India) we love your football, both the national team and La Liga

[@kennyjohndelacruz3435]

When Ted ed gives me more education than our school.

[@hellihello2333]

Samee😂

[@AC130rus]

When you name is longer than hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@yyaazz123]

Kenny John Dela Cruz this is not education, this is a documentary for fun

[@ilickcatnip]

"can we call these brains cute, why not?" Me: Yeah yeah, sure.

[@Martcapt]

They go great fried. And that liver with fava beans uhmmmm

[@jesscarstairs1440]

I did a research and a presentation about him in my freshman year of college for a course called History of Scientific Thinking. At first I cried reading about his story because I wanted to be a writer but instead I was focusing on a pretty different area (my classmates and counselor were shocked when I told them). I'm kinda over it now, but I respect him a lot and still keep the slides and the pictures of his drawings for the days when my studies become too frustrating and overwhelming to handle.

[@aqsamobdi]

The more technology advances the more we discover amazing things about life n surrounding things

[@iwanfishz9]

Do you know that most people have microscopic mites living on their faces? It's true! They hide inside the pores of your skin during the day and emerge to mate in the night. Man isn't life just amazing

[@aqsamobdi]

@@iwanfishz9 oh wow I searched...it's demodex folliculorum n D.brevis Also in this vast diversity scientists have discovered 1.8 million species n many are still undiscovered!

[@Mr_Jester980]

@Aqsa Mobdi Well, except when technology was used for war.

[@aqsamobdi]

@@Mr_Jester980 yeah right😶

[@alchemist6819]

@@aqsamobdi we also consider the fact that everything has downsides. As much as I like Technology I have to admit that brings with it it's own unique problems, and it is also making our lives really complicated. One more thing Development of technology was at peak during wars so must keep that in mind as well.

[@naturesgirl6864]

I suddenly clicked because it was something related to medicine..❤️ So it was none other than Mr.Golgi and Cajal...

[@mgA757]

Are you an MBBS aspirant?😍

[@Harsh-cl2jd]

Synapse : The gap between two successive neurons. The electrical impulses travel through nerve ending and get converted into chemical while passing through synapse.

[@SnoopyDoofie]

Biological Wi-Fi

[@ForteExpresso]

10 standard mai tha ye 😀

[@mgA757]

@@ForteExpresso I think we are taught that even earlier.

[@neorokov4970]

in fact there are several types of synapses and can be found in different structures in different ways

[@pratikshyamohapatra]

Actually somewhere science and art go hand to hand.. There are somany people who are great artist also has an immense inclination for science.. As an indian it certainly reminds me of Mr. Susant singh rajput... GOD BLESS HIS SOUL🙏....

[@ryancaguioa3369]

WOW this is so inspiring! I hope their shared legacy would continue propagating.

[@RiyaRoy-kt4gy]

The voice is soo soothing. Brings me peace at the end of the day. I watch one video every night before going to sleep. 🙂

[@bluebeka2458]

This place gives me fuel to my anger and sadness. I sould stop comming here.

[@margaretowuadey]

This is a brilliant video. Thank you. There is a real connection between science and art.

[@yeeittr4898]

Man I just love this channel more then anything!

[@bikashparimal4741]

This animation is great. So great that I am out of compliment. The best thing is they change the kind of animation in every video so that it fits the content. Plus the writing is also great. Just see the metaphor of last line, which is complimented by the animation. Great work as always.

[@gabriel-de8yv]

The pronunciation of Cajal's name was excellent! Great video.

[@dfdavid6297]

We're currently studying the neurological system in biology class, and I find that it's a great confidence that you're treating the same topic at the same time, biology is sure interesting :)

[@lipingfeng]

awesome video. a little review of how science evolved over the century is both inspiring and informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@mattgio1172]

Anyone interested in this might want to check out the Poolside Polymaths podcast - they just started out but explore the connection between art and science.

[@littlegeek7788]

Can you give the link?

[@sudarshanroy6569]

The last thing about their separate but shared network of knowledge, was amazing ❤️❤️ this is the reason ted is ted ❤️

[@vaanniraaj]

I am so hooked to ted ed man! Great info

[@ucannoyn2103]

Thank you for the video

[@pankajgaikwad2929]

Amazingly presented

[@williamjayaraj2244]

Thanks for the video.

[@shosty575]

I'm so happy that Teded covered Cajal. He is awesome.

[@Future_Pheonix]

Love the animation style in this video, and the content too.

[@weirdartist2400]

*THANK YOU EXPLAINING* ✨

[@gewurzgurke4964]

I love the walking animation with the regular profile pictures :D

[@shubhasiva9413]

TedEd scripts are always great, but man, this one is particularly well-written!

[@veme2857]

Wow, la mise en abîme à la fin comparant le réseau de connaissances des humains à celui des cellules nerveuses ou bien des neurones m'a fait ... trembler (dans un bon sens). C'est une super vidéo, j'y ai découvert des gens formidables dont on ne parle que trop rarement (voire jamais). Merci pour ça ! Wow, the "mise en abîme" at the end comparing Mankind's knowledge's network to the one of nervous' cells and neurones gave me ... thrill, shivers (in a good way). It's a great video, I discovered incredible people we hear too little (nay never). Thanks for that !

[@kirandeepchakraborty7921]

Very well explained. 👍🏻

[@binita4672]

That's honestly my dream. I'm a sucker for physics and pursuing a career in that direction but I also love art. I want to do something oneday that emerges both science and art together. And that would be my greatest creation ever. Also Ted- ed thank you for this beautiful video. I learnt something new again from you and also it inspired me ❤️

[@kateclark7250]

Best wishes with blending art and science. They aren't opposites.

[@Study_lover786-sg6vb]

Good work

[@infonuggets6147]

I love neuroscience as well as art This is the perfect video for me ☺️

[@aprilbrent5851]

Fun fact: even at the Nobel Prize ceremony, Cajal and Golgi were arguing over their disagreement on the neuron doctrine~

[@descipher]

This video shows that Art, Science and Commerc work for the Welfare of the mankind, and no one can separate them. Thank you Ted for such amazing videos

[@livtube6145]

Everything is connect to everything else so you be an artist and a scientist Cajal!

[@parthkalambe3548]

I always like your presentation 😊 And thanks for knowledge 👍

[@pritamptr662]

History of Science amazed me❣️

[@user-ut4mn3dc8d]

I find the narrator's voice soothingly clear and calming.

[@medusagorgon8432]

I do so enjoy Melanie's voice. :)

[@Fatima-rs6bv]

loved this!

[@titoqac5109]

Me gusta este canal, espero que algún día pongan subtitulos en español 🥺

[@JS-gf4iy]

Nice instruction

[@uttarandas]

The intuitions scientists make are something else.

[@jonathanjollimore7156]

Cool stuff. This is also how tasers work they interrupt your central nervous system by overloading it

[@hussianahmed3505]

Hussain Ahmad

[@nikosaurus4238]

Good job Ted

[@maryamshahid7094]

Me getting extra excited after the mention of neurons. I just Love brain related science.

[@CLEANDrumCovers]

This fricking blew my mind.

[@aaroroka106]

Neuroscience can't begin without Ramon y Cajal

[@MrDinakar007]

I like the voice of lady who is nicely explaining.

[@rajendrakhanvilkar9362]

Great video

[@mistymochi1258]

I love arts but I am studying medical soooo overall it was an inspiring video for me 🤧❤

[@marklanger7965]

Our prof for our intro to neuroscience explained to us about this topic.

[@YouTubeallowedmynametobestolen]

The voiceover artist has a clear, easy voice to listen to.

[@user-jt6ej7vh2p]

Neuroscience is such a wonderful subject.

[@bearamania]

Wow,what a discovery

[@gwyn7327]

I loved this

[@marcosjohnsonnoya417]

I really like this person's voice.

[@MinityMaths]

Proving you can be both creative and scientific! 👍

[@VarshaManoj]

This was interesting...We have so much more to us than we know 😄 I wish I had the same kinda curiosity when I was in school.Unfortunately teachers with the passion to their subject were rare then. So I was forced to study just to score marks.

[@Amitdas-gk2it]

TY ☺️

[@haricharan3046]

I was just looking at one of his diagrams in Karp's cell and molecular biology book! ...very cool guys

[@arandominternetperson23]

Nice animation 👍🏼

[@arkabratabera3146]

This video shows how Science and Art are connected with each other.

[@sanaa.2195]

Santiago Ramón y Cajal actually studied in my University. There is a huge potrait of him in the first year class 🥳

[@deepanjaliwazir8797]

Which univ are you in?

[@TheeGrumpy]

"the mid-1900s" When the century you were born in is treated like a historical era. 🤯

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@YouAndImpact]

Nice video 👍

[@ehitale]

THANK YOU FOR CAPTIONS.

[@honestlycoveredincheddar4124]

I love ur videos 😍

[@khobymike6755]

This is just me, love art and love science

[@gaurisreenidhi]

Studying science gives us a logical perspective, a methodical approach, while arts help us to think out of the box and come up with different ideas. I play sports at a professional level, I sing, I draw, and I love love love human physiology. But, I'm very very lazy. Let's see where it gets me :(

[@______yawn6419]

I swear these body animations are to die for 😂❤

[@sumansaini8035]

Cajal also went to jail for blowing his neighbour 's gate by a goddamn homemade cannon. Absolute legend

[@potrebitel3]

One connected tissue is formed of discrete cells. The explanation could be clarified better. But yes - an amazing piece of history I wasn't aware of. Thanks!

[@learndigital-theonlineworl5779]

Art can be found in every kind of expertise...

[@romanbruni]

loved the animation/explanation ! but alas there was a detail of a detail missing in the animation explanation: what are the chemicals between neurons?

[@praticm2846]

The editor of this video needs a pay-rise ❤👏

[@Angelyy8kx]

I don’t know him but he is my idol now.

[@V_16_hmm]

I like this

[@jamnbear5185]

Today I was stressing my brain as to what I should pursue in future, science or arts, and this video motivated me to choose both lol😂

[@altezzadriver]

This 5 minute video summed up a weeks worth of neurobiology lectures in college

[@claragilartdedios9879]

2:43, 3:01, 3:24, 3:44, etc. Sooo, I don't know if anybody has mentioned it, but his complete name is "Santiago Ramón y Cajal", being "Santiago" his name and "Ramón y Cajal" his last name (two last names, one from the father and one from the mother), so his last name isn't "Cajal" but "Ramón y Cajal" or only "Ramón" (which is odd and nobody calls him like that). A disclaimer on the description would be much appreciated!

[@anilkashyap1388]

Amazing

[@beleader6899]

ḭnvest in çryptó trading with my administrative Kenneth Witover

[@beleader6899]

His availability is on ωhātsäpp

[@beleader6899]

+ 1 7 6 5 9 9 7 8 4 7 5

[@noahz3429]

ART

[@profveshagen445]

Interesting

[@chuubaccatheworld9075]

When you want to be an artist but your parents want you to become a doctor:

[@ushmapatel2083]

Frank Netter who became a cardiologist ended up working as a medical illustrator- he is one of the most prolific medical illustrators in history!

[@chuubaccatheworld9075]

@@ushmapatel2083 Thank you for the fact :D

[@corycianangel6321]

Me. But after convincing them, they gave up on that expectation.