Cuello_2025_Handb.Clin.Neurol_211_1

This chapter provides a concise narrative of the evolution of events that have led to the current widely accepted concept of cholinergic neurotransmission. It recounts the saga of a century of intense research, technologic innovations, and fundamental discoveries, highlighting the contributions of key figures who have provoked ongoing intellectual challenges and scientific disputes regarding the physiologic significance of cholinergic transmission. Additionally, the chapter describes the resolution of decades-old debates surrounding the hypothesis of electrical vs chemical neurotransmission-a debate that has shaped current fundamental concepts and garnered several Nobel Prizes.