IB Class Entry - Case of Phineas Cage

The case study of Phineas Gage influenced 19th-century discussion about the brain, particularly debate on cerebral localization. It was the first case that suggested damage to specific regions of the brain might affect personality and behavior. Through this psychology study, it is important to consider the ethical issues and limitations in terms of theory of knowledge.

Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman and while he was blasting a rock, a thirteen-pound iron rod was shot through his brain. Gage survived the accident and within 2 months he could function properly. However, his once pleasant personality had been replaced by less desirable qualities such as lying, excessive use of abusive language and non-dependability.

Upon examination, it was found that the change in personality was a result of severe damage to the frontal lobes of the brain. There was skepticism at the time about whether the brain could govern human behavior. The case of Phineas Gage was the first to be publicized that demonstrated a biological basis for behavior. It appears that the frontal lobes necessary for language and motor function were unaffected whilst the underside of the frontal lobes were heavily damaged, causing the anti-social behavior. It is agreed that the brain exhibits localization of function so damage to a specific part of the brain results in a drastic loss in its corresponding function.

Some ethic points to consider is that all of Phineas Gage’s accident and his behavior afterwards were published, not protecting him and his identity. In addition, the localization of function has been proved to be outdated thus this case study can not be a valid explanation for all situations related to the biological factors and behaviors of the brain.