Phineas Gage
Phineas P. Gage was an American railroad construction foreman remembered for his improbable survival of an accident in which a large iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain's left frontal lobe, and for that injury's reported effects on his personalit…
Neurology
Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Neurology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, …
What happened to Phineas Gage's brain?
The case of Phineas Gage has been of huge interest in the field of psychology and is a largely speculated phenomena. Gage suffered a severe brain injury from an iron rod penetrating his skull, of which he miraculously survived. After the accident, Gage’s personality was said to have changed as a result of the damage the frontal lobe of his brain.
What can we learn from Phineas Gage Gage?
The influence of Phineas Gage Gage’s case is important in the field of neuroscience. The reported changes in his behaviour post-accident is strong evidence for the localisation of brain function, meaning that specific areas of the brain are associated with certain functions.
How did George Gage's case influence Early Neurology?
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.
How did Gage's injury change his personality?
He experienced a traumatic brain injury when an iron rod was driven through his entire skull, destroying much of his frontal lobe . Gage miraculously survived the accident. However, his personality and behavior were so changed as a result that many of his friends described him as an almost different person entirely.
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Who is Phineas Gage?
Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology content. Phineas Gage is often referred to as one of the most famous patients in neuroscience.
What Happened to Phineas Gage?
After the accident, Gage was unable to return to his previous job. According to Harlow, Gage spent some time traveling through New England and Europe with his tamping iron in order to earn money, supposedly even appearing in the Barnum American Museum in New York. 2
Why did Gage travel with his tampering iron?
According to Harlow, Gage spent some time traveling through New England and Europe with his tamping iron in order to earn money , supposedly even appearing in the Barnum American Museum in New York. 2.
What was Phineas Gage's impact on the world?
Gage's Influence. Post-Accident Life. Phineas Gage is often referred to as one of the most famous patients in neuroscience. He experienced a traumatic brain injury when an iron rod was driven through his entire skull, destroying much of his frontal lobe . Gage miraculously survived the accident.
How did Gage's brain damage affect Harlow's report?
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.
What did Gage's injury turn him into?
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. 4
How far did the rod go in the Gage?
The rod penetrated Gage's left cheek, tore through his brain, and exited his skull before landing 80 feet away. 1. Gage not only survived the initial injury but was able to speak and walk to a nearby cart so he could be taken into town to be seen by a doctor.
What was Phineas Gage's impact on psychology?
Phineas Gage’s Impact on Psychology. Gage was the first child of Hannah Trusell and Jesse Eaton Gage, who lived in New Hampshire, in the County of Grafton. He had four siblings. There is very little information provided about his education and the way he was brought up. Gage started working with explosives on farms while he was a youth, ...
Why was Gage's injury important?
The injuries incurred by Gage enabled the scientists to have a better understanding of the brain. For instance, his frontal Cortex was damaged by the iron rods, making him lose his consciousness/loss of social inhibitions. This made the scientists understand clearly the role of frontal cortex when it comes to decision making and also when it comes to social interactions with other people. His injury was used as an evidence in the 19th century, to prove that the personality and behavior of an individual are greatly controlled by the frontal cortex.
What happened to Gage's skull?
The incident took place the moment his attention was interrupted by workers who were behind him. This made him look behind over his right shoulder, aligning his head unintentionally with the blast hole. As he was opening his mouth to speak, the iron which was being compressed ignited the rock making the powder to explode. This happened definitely since the sand had already been removed. The iron which exploded entered Gage’s jaw and moved towards the upper direction, in front of the angle of the lower jaw. There were high chances of the cheekbone being fractured since the iron moved outside through the upper jaw. The iron passed behind the left eye, and then through the left side of the brain and finally moved out of the upper side of the skull via the frontal bone.
What was the skull used for in the Gage accident?
Gage’s skull was also used by scientists in identifying areas in the brain which were greatly damaged. There is also a digital model which was created to trace the rod path.
What was Gage's accident used for?
His accident was also used to support the theories and projects of other scientists. For instance, during the time of David Ferrier, one of the pioneer researcher, who was a neurology from Scott had carried out a thorough experimental research on the function of cerebral. In 1878 while he was carrying out a lecture to the Royal College of physicians, he realized that the damage of frontal cortices appeared to have no effect on the physical ability of an animal, but then there was alliteration which could be noted in the behavior and character of an animal. All these claims were supported by the incident of Gage’s accident (Bechara 2016).
What caused the iron in Gage's mouth to explode?
As he was opening his mouth to speak, the iron which was being compressed ignited the rock making the powder to explode. This happened definitely since the sand had already been removed. The iron which exploded entered Gage’s jaw and moved towards the upper direction, in front of the angle of the lower jaw.
Where did the iron go after the Gage accident?
The iron passed behind the left eye, and then through the left side of the brain and finally moved out of the upper side of the skull via the frontal bone. There were various changes in the personality of Gage that took place after having the accident due to the injuries incurred.
Who was Phineas Gage?
Phineas P. Gage (1823–1860) was an American railroad construction foreman remembered for his improbable [B1] : 19 survival of an accident in which a large iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain's left frontal lobe, and for that injury's reported effects on his personality and behavior over the remaining 12 years of his life—effects sufficiently profound that friends saw him (for a time at least) as "no longer Gage". [H] : 14
What did Phineas do?
Phineas was accustomed to entertain his little nephews and nieces with the most fabulous recitals of his wonderful feats and hair-breadth escapes, without any foundation except in his fancy. He conceived a great fondness for pets and souvenirs, especially for children, horses and dogs—only exceeded by his attachment for his tamping iron, which was his constant companion during the remainder of his life.
How old was Gage when he died?
The birthdate July 9, 1823, is given by a Gage genealogy without citation, [M] :16 but is consistent with agreement among contemporary sources that Gage was 25 years old on the date of his accident, and with his age (36 years) as given in undertaker's records after his death in May 1860.
What molar did Gage lose?
Gage's rearmost left upper molar, adjacent to the point of entry through the cheek, was also lost. Though a year later some weakness remained, [M] : 93 Harlow wrote that "physically, the recovery was quite complete during the four years immediately succeeding the injury". [H] : 19
Which scientist proved that the brain is not localized?
In the 19th-century debate over whether the various mental functions are or are not localized in specific regions of the brain (see Cerebral localization), both sides managed to enlist Gage in support of their theories. [B] :678 [M] :ch9 For example, after Eugene Dupuy wrote that Gage proved that the brain is not localized (characterizing him as a "striking case of destruction of the so-called speech centre without consequent aphasia ") Ferrier replied by using Gage (along with the woodcuts of his skull and tamping iron from Harlow's 1868 paper) to support his thesis that the brain is localized. [M] :188 [M5] :198,253
When did Gage die?
On May 18, 1860 Gage "left Santa Clara and went home to his mother. At 5 o'clock, A.M., on the 20th, he had a severe convulsion. The family physician was called in, and bled him. The convulsions were repeated frequently during the succeeding day and night," [H] : 15 and he died in status epilepticus, [M2] : E in or near San Francisco, late on May 21, 1860. He was buried in San Francisco's Lone Mountain Cemetery.
What was Gage's mental state before he died?
A report of Gage's physical and mental condition shortly before his death implies that his most serious mental changes were temporary, so that in later life he was far more functional, and socially far better adapted, than in the years immediately following his accident.
What was Phineas Gage's brain injury?
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.
What was the job of the Gage?
Among Gage’s duties was to clear rocks to level the ground. The task involved placing an explosive charge deep into the rock by drilling a hole. The hole was then filled with gunpowder, and a fuse was set. Sand was added on top of the explosive material to prevent contact.
Why did Gage add sand to explosives?
Sand was added on top of the explosive material to prevent contact. A tamping rod was then used to pack the explosives into the rock. On the afternoon of September 13, 1848, near Cavendish, Vermont, Gage tamped down the powder without the addition of the sand.
Did Gage change his personality?
However, Gage’s personality appears to have changed (for a time at least), causing his colleagues to state that he was “ no longer Gage.”. While some have described Gage as restless, disrespectful, and unreliable following the accident, the true extent of the personality changes he experienced are unknown.
What is Phineas Gage's impact on psychology?
So what makes him so significant in psychology? His brain injury was shocking and the result impact on his personality quickly became one of the most famous case studies in psychology and neuroscience.
What happened to Phineas Gage?
While using an iron rod to tamp explosive powder into a hole, the powder ignited and sent the 43-inch long rod hurtling upward. The rod pierced through Gage’s cheek, passing though the frontal lobe of his brain before exiting the top of his skull and landing approximately 80 feet away.
How much of Gage's brain was damaged by the tamping rod?
One 1994 study suggested that both prefrontal cortices were affected, while a 2004 study indicated that the damage was limited to the left frontal lobe. In 2012, a new study estimated that approximately 11-percent of Gage’s frontal lobe was destroyed and that 4-percent of his cerebral cortex was impacted.
How did Gage die?
Gage died in 1860 following a series of epileptic seizures, just 12 and a half years after his accident. In 1866, Harlow requested that the family exhume the body . The skull was removed and sent to Harlow, along with the iron tamping bar that had been in Gage’s possession at the time of his death. Today, both the skull and the iron rod can be seen at Harvard Medical School’s Warren Anatomical Museum.
How far did the rod go through Gage's skull?
The rod pierced through Gage’s cheek, passing though the frontal lobe of his brain before exiting the top of his skull and landing approximately 80 feet away. Amazingly, Gage not only survived the accident, he also went on to become one of the earliest and most famous cases in the then just emerging field of neurology.
What does Harlow say about Gage?
In Harlow’s descriptions of Gage after the accident, he suggests that Gage would often make plans but fail to carry them out and that many of his friends described his personality as greatly changed, to the point that they felt he was “no longer Gage.”.
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for decision making?
The frontal lobe plays a vital role in problem-solving, decision-making, and planning. The area known as the prefrontal cortex is associated with the expression of personality. Other functions associated with the frontal lobe including reasoning, judgment, and impulse control.
Why was Phineas Gage important?
The case of Phineas Gage allowed researchers and psychologists to investigate and study the hypothesis that the frontal lobe, one of the four main regions of the brain that is located in the front of the head, is involved in emotional regulation, decision making, and executive planning.
What is the story of Phineas Gage?
Learn about Phineas Gage, the accident that caused him to have personality changes, and how he greatly influenced the field and practice of neuropsychology. Create an account.
How did Phineas Gage die?
He went to work in New Hampshire as a stable hand and then as a coach driver in Chile. After moving around quite a bit, Phineas Gage died in 1860 following a series of seizures which were likely a result of his accident. 4:09.
How old was Phineas Gage when he was on the railroad?
In 1848, 25-year -old Phineas Gage was a foreman on the Rutland and Burlington Railroad where it was his job to prepare the ground for future train tracks.
How did Gage survive the accident?
Right after the accident, he sat up, climbed into a wagon, and asked for medical assistance. While Gage survived the accident with the ability to speak, think, and remember, his personality reportedly changed so much that he became too difficult to work with and he could not hold a steady job or stick to any plan.
What was Gage's personality before his accident?
Psychological Injuries. Before his accident, Gage was said to be a very calm, mild mannered and quiet person. He was a hard worker and got along with everyone. After the accident, he was described as irritable, easily angered, and irresponsible.
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for emotional regulation?
The case of Phineas Gage allowed researchers and psychologists to investigate and study the hypothesis that the frontal lobe, one of the four main regions of the brain that is located in the front of the head, is involved in emotional regulation, decision making, and executive planning.
Phineas Gage's Accident
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 heavy drinker who was unable to hold down a job.5 Harlow presented the first account of the changes in Gage's behavior following the accident. Wh…
Severity of Gage's 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…
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. Gage's extraordinary story served as one o...
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 …
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…