The case of phineas gage is an integral part of medical folklore. His story remains a foundational example for both medical and psychology students, bridging medicine, psychology and history. In the annals of neuroscience, few names are as memorable as phineas gage.
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. The article provides a summary of the phineas gage case with the inclusion of notes he made throughout the recovery. Learn gage's story and its impact on psychology.
Henry jacob bigelow, a doctor, brought phineas gage to boston to his accident to study its impact. Phineas gage (born july 1823, new hampshire, u.s.—died may 1860, california) was an american railroad foreman known for having survived a traumatic brain injury caused by an iron rod that shot through his skull and obliterated the. His accident still causes astonishment and curiosity and can be considered as the case that most influenced and contributed to the nineteenth century's neuropsychiatric discussion on. Phineas gage's case is considered one of the earliest documented examples illustrating the connection between brain damage, particularly in the frontal lobes, and changes in personality and behavior.
His case continues to spark discussions about the human brain and behavior. What the reports on phineas gage reveal about the mental recovery after a tamping iron passed through his head, and what his legacy has been. Phineas gage’s story has captured the public’s imagination and become a staple in educational settings. Phineas gage suffered a terrible accident that made him one of the most famous cases of traumatic brain injury.