| 1665 | Marcello Malpighi | First description of the nervous system histology | Foundation of neurohistology |
| 1791 | Luigi Galvani | Demonstrated electrical nature of nerve signals ("animal electricity") | Established bioelectricity |
| 1838-1839 | Schleiden & Schwann | Cell theory applied to nervous tissue | All tissues made of cells |
| 1873 | Camillo Golgi | Silver staining method for neurons | Revealed neuron morphology |
| 1888-1891 | Santiago Ramón y Cajal | Neuron doctrine: nervous system made of individual neurons, not a syncytium | Individual neuron theory |
| 1897 | Charles Sherrington | Coined term "synapse"; described reflex arc | Reflex arc concept |
| 1914 | Henry Dale | Identified acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter | ACh = first NT identified |
| 1921 | Otto Loewi | "Vagusstoff" experiment: chemical neurotransmission at heart | Chemical synapse proof |
| 1952 | Hodgkin & Huxley | Voltage clamp experiments; ionic basis of AP (Na+ and K+ currents) | Nobel 1963; AP mechanism |
| 1953 | Eccles, Fatt, Koketsu | Demonstrated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) | Inhibitory synapses |
| 1960s | Katz | Quantal nature of neurotransmitter release | Synaptic vesicle theory |
| 1974 | Hughes & Kosterlitz | Discovered enkephalins (endogenous opioids) | Endorphin concept |
| 1990s-present | Various | Long-term potentiation (LTP); NMDA receptors; optogenetics | Memory mechanisms |