Discovery of the Neuron Doctrine

Santiago Ramón y Cajal's meticulous late-19th-century drawings established that the nervous system comprises discrete individual cells—neurons—connected by synapses, overturning the prevailing reticular theory. This cellular foundation outperforms #2 Neuroplasticity by providing the immutable unit for all neural communication, and it remains cited in over 15,000 contemporary studies each year, underscoring its enduring impact.