Louis Pierre Gratiolet

Who was Louis Pierre Gratiolet?

Louis Pierre Gratiolet was a French anatomist and zoologist who was a native of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Gironde. He succeeded Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire as professor of zoology to the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Paris.

Gratiolet is remembered for his work in neuroanatomy, physiognomy and physical anthropology. He did extensive research in the field of comparative anatomy, and performed important studies regarding the differences and similarities between human and various primate brains. He is also credited for introducing the demarcation of the brain's cortical surface into five lobes,.

With Paul Broca he performed correlative studies of aphasia and the frontal lobe. Gratiolet was a vocal critic of Broca regarding the latter's belief that a larger brain equated to higher intelligence.

Associated eponym:

Gratiolet's radiation: also known as the geniculocalcarine tract. The massive, fan-like fiber system passing from the lateral geniculate body of the thalamus to the visual cortex.