Chapter 1. Getting into the Brain

Finding Personality in 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 markedly changed. Previously described as having a “well-balanced” mind, post-injury Gage was prone to angry outbursts and profanity (Harlow, 1868, 1869, as cited in Macmillan, 2000).

Using measurements from his fractured skull, scientists have been able to estimate where the damage occurred (Ratiu, Talos, Haker, Lieberman, & Everett, 2004; Van Horn et al., 2012). Cases like this have helped psychologists understand the role of different structures in the brain.