The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean
Everything You Know About Phineas Gage Is Wrong
Jul 11, 2023
Phineas Gage's story challenges misconceptions as he demonstrates resiliency and overcomes trauma. The podcast explores his life in Chile, his declining health and behavioral changes, and his lasting impact on neuroscience and the understanding of the brain's connection to personality and self-identity.
24:23
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Quick takeaways
- Phineas Gage's case challenges our understanding of the brain's ability to heal and adapt after a traumatic brain injury.
- Gage's life story has been distorted over time, and his personality changes may have been a result of his brain's healing and plasticity.
Deep dives
The Life-Changing Accident of Phineas Gage
Phineas Gage, a construction foreman in 1848, survived a traumatic brain injury when a 13-pound iron rod pierced his skull. Contrary to popular belief, Gage did not become a psychopath or criminal after the accident. Instead, he recovered and resumed a somewhat normal life, though his personality did change. His case, widely studied in neuroscience, challenges our understanding of the brain's ability to heal and adapt.
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