Santiago Ramon y Cajal Santiago Ramon y Cajal (1852-1934) was one of the greatest Spanish scientists of the 19th and early 20th centuries. His study of the brain and nerve cells laid the groundwork for neuroscience. He was not a man who kept his studies to one specific field, but rather made lasting important contributions to several fields. He was not a man who went unnoticed, but he was highly regarded not only for his laboratory work, but also for his scientific writings and illustrations. As well as being a great scientist Cajal was also an excellent writer. The personal anecdotes he gives in his autobiography are