“Although sensory and motor functions are undoubtedly important for your behavior, I like to take a historical approach when talking about perhaps the medulla’s most important function,” Mindstein says with a grin.

“Back in the 19th century, a French physiologist named Pierre Flourens developed the ablation method,” Dr. Mindstein says. “He would damage a part of the brain of an animal and then test the animal to see what it could no longer do as a result of the brain damage. When he damaged the medulla oblongata, his animals all died, so he concluded it was necessary for life.

“In fact, the medulla contains structures responsible for breathing and heart rate. JFK’s brother Robert Kennedy, or Bobby, as he was often called, died from damage to the medulla caused by a gunshot wound to the side of the head.” As he says this, the professor is reminded of a quote attributed to Bobby Kennedy he read in his e-mail messages just before coming to class, but he can’t see how to work it into his lecture. Here’s the quote: “People say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him.”