Pierre Paul Broca (1824–1880): Evidence for the Localization of Speech Pierre Paul Broca was already a famous scientist and surgeon when he announced in 1861 that he had discovered solid evidence for the localization of language functions in the human brain. His patient was an unpleasant middle-aged man universally known as Tan because that was the only word he could speak—aside from a single swear word when angered. Of normal intelligence, Tan could comprehend the speech of others but could not produce language himself. After Tan’s death, an autopsy revealed a distinct lesion on the lower left frontal lobe. This area is still known as Broca’s area.

Images from the History of Medicine, National Library of Medicine