10. in the second crash course video, you’ll hear the story of phineas gage. what happened to gage?

by Jackson Anderson 4 min read

What does Phineas Gage teach us about the brain?

Gage's case is important in the field of neuroscience. The reported changes in his behavior post-accident is strong evidence for the localisation of brain function, meaning that specific areas of the brain are associated with certain functions.Nov 30, 2020

What part of Phineas Gage's brain was damaged in his accident?

left frontal lobeGage didn't die. But the tamping iron destroyed much of his brain's left frontal lobe, and Gage's once even-tempered personality changed dramatically.May 21, 2017

What happened to Phineas Gage and why was this important?

Phineas Gage, (born July 1823, New Hampshire, U.S.—died May 1860, California), American railroad foreman known for having survived a traumatic brain injury caused by an iron rod that shot through his skull and obliterated the greater part of the left frontal lobe of his brain.

How did Phineas Gage's personality change after the accident?

Similarly, most popular accounts of Phineas Gage describe him as having undergone profound personality changes because of his injury. He is often reported as having permanently lost his inhibitions, so that he started to behave inappropriately in social situations.Nov 8, 2010

What part of Phineas Gage's brain was damaged in his accident quizlet?

The part of the brain damaged by the iron was the frontal lobe.

How does the accident affect the Behaviour of Phineas Gage?

Since there is little direct evidence of the exact extent of Gage's injuries aside from Harlow's report, it is difficult to know exactly how severely his brain was damaged. Harlow's accounts suggest that the injury did lead to a loss of social inhibition, leading Gage to behave in ways that were seen as inappropriate.Feb 24, 2022

How did Phineas Gage survive the accident?

One fateful day, a spark ignited the powder prematurally, propelling the five kilogram iron rod through Gage's left cheek and out the top of his head, landing some distance away. Miraculously he survived, in spite of having lost a significant portion of his brain.Jul 31, 2018

Why is Phineas Gage a significant person in the history of behavioral neuroscience?

Phineas Gage is probably the most famous person to have survived severe damage to the brain. He is also the first patient from whom we learned something about the relation between personality and the function of the front parts of the brain.

Why is the story of Phineas Gage considered so extraordinary?

The story about Phineas Gage is so extraordinary because he survived such a traumatic injury and a portion of his Frontal Lobe was removed. His story teaches us that the brain can still function even after a traumatic injury happens.

How did Phineas Gage contribution to psychology?

In those years, while neuropsychiatry was in its infancy, Gage's extraordinary story served as one of the first pillars of evidence that the frontal lobe is involved in personality, which helped solidify his remarkable legacy in world medical history.

What part of the brain controls personality?

Frontal lobeFrontal lobe. The largest lobe of the brain, located in the front of the head, the frontal lobe is involved in personality characteristics, decision-making and movement. Recognition of smell usually involves parts of the frontal lobe.

Phineas Gage's Accident

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On September 13, 1848, the then-25-year-old Gage was working as the foreman of a crew preparing a railroad bed near Cavendish, Vermont. He was using an iron tamping rod to pack explosive powder into a hole. Unfortunately, the powder detonated, sending the 43-inch-long, 1.25-inch-diameter rod hurling upward. Th…
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The Effects of Gage's Injury

  • Popular reports of Gage often depict him as a hardworking, pleasant man prior to the accident. Post-accident, these reports describe him as a changed man, suggesting that the injury had transformed him into a surly, aggressive alcoholic who was unable to hold down a job.5 Harlow presented the first account of the changes in Gage's behavior following the accident. Where Gag…
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Severity of The Brain Damage

  • In a 1994 study, researchers utilized neuroimaging techniques to reconstruct Phineas Gage's skull and determine the exact placement of the injury. Their findings indicate that he suffered injuries to both the left and right prefrontal cortices, which would result in problems with emotional processing and rational decision-making.7 Another study conducted in 2004 used three-dimensi…
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Phineas Gage's Impact on Psychology

  • Gage's case had a tremendous influence on early neurology. The specific changes observed in his behavior pointed to emerging theories about the localization of brain function, or the idea that certain functions are associated with specific areas of the brain.10 In those years, neurology was in its infancy. So, Gage's extraordinary story served as one of the first sources of evidence that t…
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What Happened to Phineas Gage?

  • After the accident, Gage was unable to continue his previous job. According to Harlow, Gage spent some time traveling through New England and Europe with his tamping iron to earn money, supposedly even appearing in the Barnum American Museum in New York.3 He also worked briefly at a livery stable in New Hampshire and then spent seven years as a stagecoach driver in …
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A Word from Verywell

  • Gage's accident and subsequent experiences serve as a historical example of how case studies can be used to look at unique situations that could not be replicated in a lab. What researchers learned from Phineas Gage's skull and brain injury played an important role in the early days of neurology and helped scientists gain a better understanding of the human brain and the impact t…
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