[Cajal and neuroscience in the eve of the third millenium]

This is a brief history of the birth of Neuroscience as an independent branch of knowledge. The importance of Cajal's contribution to the structuralization of modern Neuroscience is described. Outstanding contributions to Neuroscience of the last century, particularly the Decade of the Brain, are summarized. The reason for the huge increase and interest in neuroscientific studies are given. Finally, I emphasize the challenge that multidisciplinary study and interinstitutional collaboration pose to advancing our knowledge of the human brain. The second part of the talk demonstrated the validity of Cajal's work in modern Neuroscience insisting on three aspects: 1) the microscopic study of the Mammalian central nervous system, 2) the neurogenesis and development of the nervous system and 3) the degeneration, regeneration and plasticity of the central nervous system. I conclude that Cajal's timeliness is reflected by the fact that there are few problems in modern Neuroscience which Cajal did not address at one time or other.