About
Auguste Forel, born in 1848 near Morges, was a versatile Swiss scholar. Trained in medicine in Zurich and Vienna, he became professor of psychiatry at the University of Zurich and director of the Burghölzli asylum. His neuroanatomical work described brain structures (fields of Forel) and he independently formulated the neuron theory. Passionate about myrmecology, he published major works on ants. A social reformer, he founded an institute to treat alcoholism, promoted hypnosis, and advocated for sexual reform. After a stroke in 1912, he adapted and continued his activities. He embraced the Bahá'í Faith in 1920. He died in 1931.
* 1848-09-01 — † 1931-07-27
Major works
- Les Fourmis de la Suisse (1874)scientific work
- Hypnotism; or, Suggestion and Psychotherapy (1907)book
- Die sexuelle Frage (1908)book
- Le Monde Social des Fourmis (1921)multi-volume work
Key milestones
- 1877Described the zona incerta and the tegmental H fields (fields of Forel).
- 1889Founded an institute for the medical treatment of alcoholism in Zurich.
- 1920Became a member of the Bahá'í Faith.
Themes
NeuroanatomyMyrmecologyPsychiatrySocial reformHypnosis and psychotherapy
Sources: britannica.com · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov