Abstract: In the last decade of the 20th century, the protection of both structure and function of brain in brain surgery had become a typical principle in the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery worldwide. However, brain surgery in China was still in the stage of micro-neurosurgery at that time. This study was to popularize the concept and technologies of minimally invasive neurosurgery in the treatment of brain surgery throughout the country. Based on the principle of “the least injury, the largest preservation of brain function”, traditional craniotomies were improved, and a set of both intraoperative monitoring and alerting system for brain protection were established as well. Meanwhile, the application of transitional medicine helped greatly to protect the basic visual, lingual and motor functions of the brain in neurosurgery. We are the first to verify the functional topology of the Chinese linguistic areas and the anterior region of the temporal lobe in the world, based on both scientific and clinical works. This study helped to improve the outcome of patients receiving minimally invasive neurosurgery in China, and lower the cost of the treatment of the diseases. Brain surgery in China has reached the international level in the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery.

Key words: National Prize for Science and Technology Progress, minimally invasive neurosurgery, brain and cognitive science, neuronavigation