Scientific American: Psychology
Infographic Activity 2.4: Getting Into the Brain
Getting Into the Brain
In 1848 an accidental blast drove a 3-foot iron bar through the head of railroad worker Phineas Gage. He survived, but his personality was disastrously affected. Previously reliable and agreeable, post-injury Gage was prone to angry outbursts and become unable to hold down a job.
Using measurements from his fractured skull, modern scientists have been able to connect Gage’s personality changes to frontal lobe damage. Cases like this have helped psychologists understand the role of different structures in the brain.
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