Basic Facts
What was Phineas Gage's occupation before the accident?
A railroad foreman (leader)
Who was Dr. John Harlow?
The doctor who took care of Phineas
What personality changes did Phineas Gage experience after the accident?
He was rude, used profanity, couldn't make decisions, argued with other people
What is the frontal lobe?
Controls thinking, planning, decision-making, and voluntary movement
What is the temporal lobe?
Involved in hearing, memory, and language
What date (month, date, and year) did the accident occur?
September 13, 1848
How did Gage's case impact neuroscience?
It showed specific brain areas control specific functions; It demonstrated personality's connection to the frontal lobe; It advanced understanding of brain injury
What were some of Gage's later occupations?
worked for PT Barnum, worked with horses, worked as a Stagecoach, worked on farms
What is the occipital lobe?
Visual perception, visual interpretation, helps you to read
What is the cerebellum?
Coordinates movement and balance
Describe the circumstances of Phineas Gage's accident.
-Phineas was working on exploding rock, someone forgot to tamp the sand, he dropped his tamping iron in the blasting site
Why is the frontal lobe important?
It controls our personality and decision making
How old was Phineas when he left for South America?
30 years old
What is the brain stem?
Controls basic life functions such as breathing and heartbeat
What did Localizers/Phrenologist believe?
Early, outdated theory suggesting bumps on the skull reveal mental traits
What details of Gage's injury are significant?
It passed through his frontal lobe, he was able to walk and talk after the accident, his personality changed
How did Gage's case help in understanding brain function?
When did Phineas die? (month, day, year)
May 21st, 1860
What did whole brainers believe?
Thoughts are random, they float around in your brain
What is the cortex?
Outer layer of the brain involved in complex thought processes (emotions, imagination, dreams, etc.)
How did Dr. Harlow treat Phineas after his accident?
The study of bumps on the skull to determine personality traits and mental abilities
Phrenology
How did Dr. Harlow get Phineas's skull and why did he want it?
He wrote a letter to Hannah Gage asking for it and said it was important for science.
What is the corpus callosum?
Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain
What is the parietal lobe?
Interprets sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain