The strange case of Phineas P. Gage

Faintgreeneyes
Faintgreeneyes Posts: 729 Member
edited December 2024 in Chit-Chat
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0037454

Article and subsequent study is based on the case of Phineas P. Gage, who had a railroad iron that went through his head, behind the eye socket, and into his skull. He lived, but it was noted that he had a sever personality change, among other symptoms. They are using his accident to map out his brain and see what damage would have been done to not only his Gray Matter, but the white matter in his brain as well.

I personally found it fascinating- just thought I would share.

I am also a huge nerd :)

Replies

  • Faintgreeneyes
    Faintgreeneyes Posts: 729 Member
    Maybe I am the only nerd around
  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
    phineas_gage.jpg

    The truly fascinating part of this case is the severe personality changes Gage went through.
    -wtk
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    mmmmmm Nerds :love:
  • Faintgreeneyes
    Faintgreeneyes Posts: 729 Member
    phineas_gage.jpg

    The truly fascinating part of this case is the severe personality changes Gage went through.
    -wtk

    Which is true of most frontal lobe injuries.
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    bumping for my evening reading

    <
    nerd
  • L00py_T0ucan
    L00py_T0ucan Posts: 1,378 Member
    bump (for lunchtime reading)!
  • StarkLark
    StarkLark Posts: 476 Member
    Love it! I always remembered this guy's name after reading about him in a psych class. :happy:
  • DaBossLady24
    DaBossLady24 Posts: 556 Member
    Psychology nerd right here! probably one of the best stories that I could hear over and over again... then you get me talking about prefrontal cortex changes for his personality all day.

    yup, nerds unite! :drinker:
  • Diary_Queen
    Diary_Queen Posts: 1,314 Member
    bumping also... i love this stuff!!!!
  • morganhccstudent724
    morganhccstudent724 Posts: 1,261 Member
    There is a educational movie on him....


    Very fascinating


    Nerds are hot :wink:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    A friend of mine married a guy who had previously had a brain injury that caused personality changes. She met him after the accident, but the marriage didn't even last a year.

    This does sound fascinating, though.
  • gympamela
    gympamela Posts: 188 Member
    Psych 201 we studied some on this guys case study!
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I love Gage's case! I'm a psych major in college and spent a good portion of a semester studying him. The personality change really is fascinating.
  • jmelyan23
    jmelyan23 Posts: 1,648 Member
    I remember learning about this guy in psychology class. I thought it was fascinating too, so you're not the only nerd! Nerds are awesome, by the way. :bigsmile:
  • Ocarina
    Ocarina Posts: 1,550 Member
    Yeah I think this guy is popular in Psych classes. Very good story!
  • Juliet_622
    Juliet_622 Posts: 165 Member
    How does a psych major pass up a topic like this!?

    If you like case studies like this, I'd highly recommend Oliver Sacks' book "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat." It was part of my Human Neuropsychology class readings, and it was terrific!
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Very interesting case. The brain's ability to adapt is quite amazing.

    Also, Phineas is one of the worst names ever.
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    Very interesting case. The brain's ability to adapt is quite amazing.

    Also, Phineas is one of the worst names ever.

    I like Phineas. I think it's charming.
  • Faintgreeneyes
    Faintgreeneyes Posts: 729 Member
    How does a psych major pass up a topic like this!?

    That was basically my thought when I stumbled upon an article on CNN sighting this study! :)
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Very interesting case. The brain's ability to adapt is quite amazing.

    Also, Phineas is one of the worst names ever.

    I like Phineas. I think it's charming.

    Any child named Phineas would be well within his rights to report his parents for child abuse.
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    Love it! I always remembered this guy's name after reading about him in a psych class. :happy:
    Yep. This case is what I remember most.
  • deadstarsunburn
    deadstarsunburn Posts: 1,337 Member
    Sounds interesting! I will read this tonight
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I remember learning about this when I was a kid. It's one of those stories that has always stuck with me. I will never forget it.
  • freder1ck
    freder1ck Posts: 44 Member
    Acquired Savant - a related topic…
    http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/eureka-when-a-blow-to-the-head-creates-a-sudden-genius/257282/?google_editors_picks=true
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    How does a psych major pass up a topic like this!?

    If you like case studies like this, I'd highly recommend Oliver Sacks' book "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat." It was part of my Human Neuropsychology class readings, and it was terrific!

    Yes, fantastic book indeed!
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    Love it! I always remembered this guy's name after reading about him in a psych class. :happy:

    When I was in undergrad, my neuro lecturer used to tell us the phineas gage story - with the same dramatic pauses - every single year of our degree. I can't see his name without hearing the sound of her simpering. Sets my teeth on edge. Classical conditioning.
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