Historical Case

Use the case below (historical case studyThe Case of Phineas Gage ) of an individual who experienced a neurological disorder, disease, or accident that resulted in an interruption in his or her vision, hearing, or motor control.

Prepare a 7- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation addressing the following questions:

• What neurological disorder, disease, or accident took place to interrupt this individual’s ability?

• What behaviors were exhibited by this individual following the disorder, disease, or accident?

• What were the individual’s deficits as a result of this disorder, disease, or accident?

• What treatments did the individual seek? Were any available at the time?

• What are the research implications of the case study? How did this help scientists and doctors better understand the disorder or disease? How did this case help scientists and doctors better understand how the brain works?

  Note: Include substantive speaker notes PLEASE APA FORMAT

·         The Case of Phineas Gage

• One of the best-known clinical cases involved a dramatic injury to an unfortunate railroad worker, Phineas Gage. One day in 1848, he was working on track construction near Cavendish, Vermont. While Gage was placing an explosive charge, a spark of metal against rock set off the charge, sending a long metal tamping rod flying upwards. The rod entered Gage’s head just below the left eye, and exited from the tab of his skull, somewhat forward of left center. Remarkably, Gage survived (though he was blinded in his left eye). Even more remarkably, his behavior changed dramatically. Whereas Gage had previously been likeable and responsible, he became erratic, and given to terrible fits of temper. Sadly, he spent his remaining years wandering around the United States, displaying the hole in his skull and the iron rod which had brought him such grief.

• Gage’s story has been a source of endless fascination ever since. (His skull, and the iron rod, is still on display in the Harvard Medical School museum.) Given the pathway of the rod through his head, it would seem that the injury extensively damaged the association areas of the left frontal lobe. The behavioral changes, especially in emotionality, have been used as evidence that this region is involved in the expression of emotion. (A view seconded by advocates of frontal lobotomies in the 1940’s and ’50’s.)