Who is Brenda Milner? Why has this woman been so important for the development of psychology, and even more, of neuropsychology? What has her life been like? What have her most relevant contributions been?

In this article we answer all these questions; we will make a brief review of the life of this researcher through this biography of Brenda Milner , a pioneer in scientific research.

Who’s Brenda Milner?

Brenda Milner is a Canadian neuropsychologist, who was born in Manchester, United Kingdom, on July 15, 1918, at the height of World War I. Milner worked until she was 90, and is now 101 years old.

Milner has become a key figure in the field of psychology, especially for his contributions to scientific research, where he has carried out various studies focused on clinical neuropsychology. One of his outstanding investigations explored the interaction between the right and left hemispheres of the brain .

For many, Brenda Milner is considered the founder of neuropsychology. Let us remember that neuropsychology is the discipline that integrates the knowledge of neurology with that of psychology; it is concerned with studying the possible injuries or damage that our central nervous system receives, and how these affect psychological and cognitive processes (for example, attention, memory, behavior…).

On the other hand, neuropsychology also studies the different diseases that the nervous system can have, in addition to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Continuing with Brenda’s biography, beyond research, this scientist has been passionate about teaching . She worked at McGil University in Montreal as a professor, specifically in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery. She also worked as a professor, in this case of psychology, at the Montreal Neurological Institute.

Recognitions and Awards

Brenda Milner has been widely recognized for her academic and professional contributions, and can boast over 20 Honorary Doctorates .

In addition, he received an award in 2014 for his discovery of brain networks specialized in cognition and memory. The prize, which was the “Kavli Prize in Neuroscience”, was received along with two other researchers: Marcus E. Raichle (American neurologist) and John O’Keefe (British-American neuroscientist and psychologist).

Origin and childhood

Brenda Milner’s original name, before her marriage, was Brenda Langford . Brenda was born into a family with a passion for music.

Brenda’s father, Samuel Langford, was a journalist, teacher and music critic, and her mother, Née Leslie Doig, was a singing student. However, Brenda would soon move away from her parents’ musical heritage and begin her career as a scientist.

The same year of her birth, in 1918 and when she was only 6 months old, Brenda and her mother contracted the “Influenza Pandemic”. It was the most serious pandemic in recent history, causing between 20 and 40 million deaths. Fortunately, Brenda and her mother overcame the disease.

Studies

As for her education, Brenda’s father instructed her, until the age of 8, in mathematics, German and arts. Later, the first school Brenda Milner attended was the Withington Girls School, and later, in 1936, she entered Newnham College (Cambridge), thanks to a scholarship she obtained to study mathematics.

It is important to note that, at that time, Brenda Milner was one of only 400 women admitted by this highly prestigious school .

So Brenda’s journey began with math, but some time later, when she realized that “it wasn’t her thing”, Brenda changed and decided to study psychology. She graduated as a psychologist in 1939; specifically, she earned a degree in experimental psychology.

One of his outstanding tutors was Oliver Zangwill, a very influential British neuropsychologist . It was through him that he “inherited” an interest in studying how the brain works and how it can affect brain injuries.

And then… Canada

After graduating with a degree in psychology, Brenda Milner received another scholarship. This time to continue studying psychology at Cambridge University. However, World War II began, and she and some of her colleagues were enlisted in the collective effort.

At first, they worked helping to design the psychological tests for the combat pilots . It was there that she met her future husband: Peter Milner, who was an electrical engineer.

Brenda and Peter were married in 1944, and then went to live in Canada. Once there, Brenda started working at the University of Montreal, as a professor of psychology. There she continued her scientific career and pursued her passion for research.

In addition, began his doctorate, in 1950, with Dr. Donald Hebb , in his department at McGill University. It should be noted that Donald O. Hebb, a neuropsychologist, is considered to be the initiator of biopsychology today.

PhD

In 1952, Brenda Milner received her PhD from the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) . Her research focused on the study of patients affected by epilepsy, and on the effects, on an intellectual level, that caused different types of damage to the temporal lobe.

After obtaining her doctorate, Brenda continued at the NIM, under the direction of Wilder Penfield, a neurosurgeon specializing in the study of different brain tissues and their functions.

Psychology: moral or science?

One of Brenda Milner’s greatest contributions to the field of psychology was to move this science away from morality and closer to scientific knowledge . Before her arrival, psychology was considered a moral knowledge, and not so much a scientific one.

In other words, through psychology, people’s behaviour was judged as “good” or “bad”, according to a series of values, but it was not taken into account that sometimes certain brain or nerve injuries could influence people’s behaviour. With Milner all this changed, and psychology began to be seen more as a scientific rather than a moral construct.

What Brenda Milner did was, fundamentally, to promote knowledge and research in neuropsychology. Through this branch of psychology, which relates the physiology of the brain to cognitive and mental functions. Milner showed how neurology and psychology had much more in common than was previously thought .

Enthusiastic about life

Brenda Milner is still working today, and when she turned 100, they dedicated an honorary symposium to her on her birthday. The phrase Brenda said that day, and the one we stayed with, was: “Everything continues to be a wonderful adventure. I still enjoy every minute of it.

Today, Brenda is one of the most valued women scientists in psychology, and especially in neuropsychology, for her contributions, her doses of humility, vitality and hard work.

Bibliographic references:

  • Benavente, R. (2019). Brenda Miller, the neuropsychologist who helped eliminate the moral idea from psychology. Women with science.
  • McDevitt, N. (2007). Brenda Milner: Making a little noise when she walks. McGill Reporter, 40(8).
  • Milner, B (1954). Función intelectual de los lóbulos temporales. Boletín Psicológico 51 (1): 42-62.