[Human physiology: images and practices of the reflex].
The essay examines the function of visualizations and practices in the formation of the reflex concept from Thomas Willis to Marshall Hall. It focuses on the specific form of reflex knowledge that images and practices can contain. In addition, the essay argues that it is through visual representations and experimental practices that technical knowledge is transferred to the field of human reflex physiology. When using technical metaphors in human physiology authors often seem to feel obliged to draw distinctions between humans, machines and animals. On closer scrutiny, these distinctions sometimes fail to establish firm borders between the human and the technical.
Wübben
Yvonne
Y
Institut für Deutsche und Niederländische Philologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45, 14195 Berlin, Germany. ywuebben@zedat.fu-berlin.de
D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history*; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008488:Medical Illustration / Q000266:history*; D010827:Physiology / Q000266:history*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*