The Strange Tale of The Strange Tale of Phineas GagePhineas Gage

Overview of Incident Overview of Incident

Learning Target:Learning Target:

Describe how physical changes in Describe how physical changes in the brain affect behavior and the brain affect behavior and personalitypersonality

Phineas Gage’s Phineas Gage’s Terrible AccidentTerrible Accident On September 12, On September 12,

1848, Phineas Gage, 1848, Phineas Gage, a railroad foreman a railroad foreman was blasting rock in was blasting rock in Cavendish, Vermont.Cavendish, Vermont.

Gage was Gage was responsible, well-responsible, well-liked, and liked, and hardworking. He was hardworking. He was in charge because in charge because he was dependable!he was dependable!

RailroadRailroad

The BlastThe Blast

Gage was an expert Gage was an expert in blasting rock. He in blasting rock. He had a specially had a specially designed tamping designed tamping rod that fit his height. rod that fit his height. The rod measured 3 The rod measured 3 feet 8 inches and 1 ¼ feet 8 inches and 1 ¼ inches in diameter. It inches in diameter. It weighed about 13 weighed about 13 pounds. This rod was pounds. This rod was used to pack down used to pack down gun powder after a gun powder after a layer of sand was layer of sand was placed over top.placed over top.

Tamping RodTamping Rod

Gage’s InjuryGage’s Injury

On that fateful On that fateful September day, Gage is September day, Gage is blasting a rather large blasting a rather large rock and gets rock and gets distracted. The sand is distracted. The sand is not placed on top of the not placed on top of the gun powder and Gage gun powder and Gage uses his tamping rod uses his tamping rod directly on the gun directly on the gun powder. The RESULT: powder. The RESULT: The pointed end of the The pointed end of the rod shoots through the rod shoots through the left cheek bone and left cheek bone and through the top of the through the top of the head!head!

Gage’s Skull and MRIGage’s Skull and MRI

A MiracleA Miracle

The rod exploded with such The rod exploded with such force that it shot clear force that it shot clear through his head and through his head and landed about half a football landed about half a football field away. Gage from all field away. Gage from all accounts remained accounts remained conscious and was able to conscious and was able to walk with assistance.walk with assistance.

Dr. John Harlow attempted Dr. John Harlow attempted to remove bone fragments to remove bone fragments and allowed the wound to and allowed the wound to remain open and drain. At remain open and drain. At one point, Gage’s brain one point, Gage’s brain became infected with a became infected with a “fungus” . Harlow opened “fungus” . Harlow opened the scalp and drained 8 the scalp and drained 8 ounces of pus and Gage ounces of pus and Gage then began a dramatic then began a dramatic recovery.recovery.

Artist DrawingArtist Drawing

So what happened?So what happened?

Gage miraculously Gage miraculously recovered by January of recovered by January of 1849. He attempted to 1849. He attempted to earn a living travelling earn a living travelling around New England around New England with his rod and his with his rod and his story, BUT…life was story, BUT…life was never the same for never the same for Gage. Gage.

How did this accident How did this accident affect his personality affect his personality and behavior? Watch and behavior? Watch the re-enactment and the re-enactment and see for yourself.see for yourself.

Phineas GagePhineas Gage