Phineas Gage

Definition

Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman who survived a severe brain injury in the mid-19th century. His case is often studied in psychology because of the dramatic personality changes he experienced after his accident, which provided early evidence for the role of the frontal lobes in personality and behavior.

Related terms

Brain Injury: Damage to any part of the brain due to trauma or disease, which can lead to changes in physical abilities, cognitive function, emotion, and behavior.

Frontal Lobes:

The front part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, planning, social interaction and personality expression.

Neuroplasticity:

The ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. This concept helps explain why some people can recover abilities lost due to brain damage.