Chapter 1 - The accident
What injured Phineas Gage?
A tamping iron
In what part of Phineas' face did the tamping iron enter?
His cheek
Before his accident, Phineas Gage worked in this industry.
Railroad construction
In what country did Gage work in as a stagecoach driver?
Chile
What is the limbic system responsible for?
Rewards system
Who is Dr. Harlow?
The doctor who treated Phineas after his accident
Why do scientists study Phineas Gage today?
Because it showed how injuries to the brain affect his personality and behavior
Before the accident, his boss trusted him because he was this kind of worker.
Hint: what personality traits did he have before the accident?
He was reliable and responsible
Why might stagecoach driving have helped improve Gage’s behavior?
It helped him with planning, focus, and responsibility
After the accident, what in Phineas' personality changed?
He became rude, impulsive, and disrespectful
After recovering, Phineas struggled to do _____ compared to before his injury.
Keeping a job and follow rules
After struggling in the U.S., Gage later worked in this job involving horses.
Describe one challenge Gage faced when trying to keep jobs after the accident.
Poor decision making and impulsivity
What part of the brain was injured by Phineas Gage?
Frontal Lobe
This part of the brain is linked to emotions and behavior control, and was injured in Phineas Gage.
Frontal lobe
This word describes acting without thinking, which Gage did after the accident.
Hint: starts with an I
Impulsive
What did Phineas do at P.T. Barnums?
He used his story as an exhibition, and showed people his injuries. He told the story of how it happened.
How did other people’s reactions to Gage affect his ability to work?
They did not trust him and did not want to hire him
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Decision making
Give me a step by step what happened to Phineas Gage.
1. He was working on a railroad construction site.
2. He drilled a hole and poured gunpowder into the hole
3. he used a tamping iron to pack the materials down
4. something went wrong
5. the tamping iron shot up through his cheek and out the top of his head
Why is it surprising that Phineas Gage was able to speak and walk right after the accident?
most brain injuries that severe would cause immediate death or loss of function
Compare Gage before and after the accident as a worker
responsible and trusted; after: impulsive and unreliable
Why do scientists still study Gage even though the accident happened long ago?
His case helps explain how the brain affects behavior
List all 4 parts of the brain.
1. Frontal Lobe
2. Parietal Lobe
3. Temporal Lobe
4. Occipital Lobe