Phineas Gage Much is known about the brain, its parts and their functions.

Many years ago though, the mystery of the brain was unraveled quite unexpectedly by two very unusual events. Phineas Gages case and the identification of Brocas area in the brain caused controversies in the field of psychology but was the start of many other discoveries on brain hemispheres and functions. At almost 4 feet and 13 1/2 pounds, a tamping iron was blown right through Phineas Gage's head. on September 13, 1848, while setting explosions on a the Rutland and Burlington Rail Road in Vermont, an explosion set off and set this tamping iron through his head and harming the left hemisphere (prefrontal cortex ) of his brain. Newspapers say that he did not lose consciousness ad that he was treated by Dr. John Martyn Harlow and returned to his home ten weeks later. A few months later, Phineas Gage felt ready to work, but was denied his post because of "personality change" which was later not proven. This accident taught scientist many things about how behavior problems and dysfunction can be affected by the prefrontal cortex and left hemisphere of the brain, and overall showing more information on how different cortexes and parts of the brain can affect different functions. Dr. Henry Bigelow After the accident, Gage spent time with Dr. Henry J. Bigelow, a surgeon at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Bigelow examined Gage after the accident and did not take note of how Gages behavior changed. No concrete details of Gages personality change and behavior were noted down. This caused controversy in later years of psychology. Dr. John Harlow Although, Dr. John Harlow, Gages doctor after the accident, took small notes on Gages brain activity and malfunctions such as the accident two weeks after the tamping iron was removed from his skull, 8 ounces of lethal fluid leaked into his brain, 4 months later, Gages seemed normal again but Harlow noted that he showed a somewhat childish behavior. Harlow took information on Gages friends, family and co-workers. He noted that at first, Gage was a industrious, responsible and a great favorite among his employees After the accident, Gage was denied the job because they could not give him his job back considering the affects or possible affects of the accident. Brain Damage Gages skull was damaged under his cheekbone, behind his eye, and on the top of his skull where the tamping iron exited the skull. All but the damage on the top of his skull healed. The frontal cortex was damaged by the tamping iron. This created a frontal lobotomy and affected Gages behavior by causing a loss of social inhibitions, (which could have also been caused by the physical affects) and also caused unacceptable behavior. What Happened After? Phineas Gage died 12 years after his injury from an array of seizures and complications in the brain. Gages skill and his famous tamping iron are now on display at Warren Anatomic Museum at Harvard University.