The human circulation balance represented the first attempt to non-invasively measure brain activity, establishing a foundation for modern functional neuroimaging. Angelo Mosso, a physician and physiologist based in Turin, developed this apparatus to track the redistribution of blood during intellectual or emotional tasks, marking a shift toward objective recording of physiological responses to mental processes.
Academic and Professional Trajectory
Born in 1846, Angelo Mosso undertook his primary medical education at the University of Turin between 1864 and 1870. His subsequent career remained centered at the same institution, where he served as a professor of pharmacology starting in 1876 and as a professor of physiology from 1879. Beyond his scientific duties, Mosso was active in public life and was appointed a senator of the Kingdom of Italy in 1904. His international standing within the scientific community was evidenced by his memberships in organizations including the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, the Académie Nationale de Médecine, the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
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Mosso pioneered the study of pulse volume variations during sleep and emotional states. His research often relied on custom-built instruments designed to track human biological data. In 1890, he introduced the ergograph, a device created to measure the frequency and force of finger flexion. He also developed a sphygmomanometer for quantifying arterial blood pressure. His investigation into cortical pulsations in patients with skull defects led him to conclude that blood flow to the brain intensified during periods of mental work. This work was recognized internationally, and he received the Croonian Medal and Lecture in 1892.
Scholarly Output and Archaeological Interests
Throughout his career, Mosso produced an extensive bibliography covering physiological, social, and archaeological topics. In 1882, he co-founded the journal Archives Italiennes de Biologie. His published works included studies on fatigue, titled La fatica in 1891, and fear, published as Sulla paura in 1884. During a visit to the United States in 1900–01, he conducted observations that formed the basis for his 1901 work, Democrazia nella religione e nella scienza: studi sull' America. Later in life, he shifted his focus toward Mediterranean history and archaeology, releasing titles such as The Palaces of Crete and their Builders in 1907 and The Dawn of Mediterranean Civilization in 1910.
Fast facts
- Born: 1846, Turin, Italy
- Died: 1910, Turin, Italy
- Primary Field: Physiology
- Appointed Senator: 1904
- Croonian Medal Recipient: 1892
- Major Inventions: Human circulation balance, ergograph, sphygmomanometer
- Education: University of Turin (1864-1870)
- Burial Site: Monumental Cemetery of Turin
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the human circulation balance?
It was designed to non-invasively measure the redistribution of blood during emotional and intellectual activity in healthy subjects.
Did Mosso specialize in fields other than medicine?
Yes, he was also an inventor, a university teacher, a politician, and an archaeologist who studied Mediterranean civilizations.
Achievements
- Croonian Medal and Lecture — 1892
- Held posts at University of Turin
