What was Golgi's reticular theory?
My reticular theory, which I developed from decades of microscopic observation, holds that the nervous system is a continuous protoplasmic network, not a collection of discrete, independent cells. Using the black reaction, I traced the branching processes of neurons—particularly the axons—and observed that they anastomose, or fuse, forming a diffuse, interconnected web. In my work Sulla fina anatomia degli organi centrali del sistema nervoso, I argued that this syncytium allows for the direct transmission of nerve impulses without gaps. The continuity of the protoplasmic network is unmistakable in my preparations of the cerebellar and cerebral cortices. I cannot accept a theory that lacks direct microscopic support, such as the neuron doctrine, which posits that neurons are separate units. My evidence points to a unified system, where structure and function are inseparable.
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