1. The Strange Case of Phineas Gage
an unexpected experiment in neurological function

2. Phineas Gage
Phineas Gage was working on blasting for a new rail line in Cavendish, Vermont -- mid 1800s
he was putting dynamite into core drillings, using a tamping rod
The tamping rod is made of iron, about 3 ft long, narrowed at one end
accidentally, the dynamite charge blew up
this shot the tamping rod right through his skull and out the other side

4. note the “trap door” in the top of the skull
this must have opened, and then snapped shut again, in order to allow the rod to pass through
if the rod had been a few mm closer forward (anteriorly), it would have crushed his left eye

5. note the “trap door” in the top of the skull
this must have opened, and then snapped shut again, in order to allow the rod to pass through
if the rod had been a few mm closer forward (anteriorly), it would have crushed his left eye
note also his skull must have opened and then reshut at the line indicated in red

6. path sagittal
the rod probably went between Phineas’s frontal lobe and his limbic system
frontal lobe is responsible for higher-level thinking, reasoning, moral understanding, mathematical calculation, musical composition, etc.

7. limbic system
limbic system is responsible for generating emotions such as anger, drives to protect one’s children; hunger; thirst; passion
usually the limbic system has connections to the frontal lobe
usually the frontal lobe can have some control over the emotions generated in the limbic system

8. Brain Parts

9. limbic system

10. Brain Parts Cerebrum (cerebral cortex) ventricle Hypothalamus Pons
Medulla oblongata
Cerebellum