Chapter 2: Brain and Behavior
2.1 Brain and Behavior Connections: An Introduction
Phineas Gage’s Accident and Paul Broca’s Discovery
September 13, 1848; railroad workers laying new tracks
accidental explosion of blasting powder shot an iron rod through the roof of phineas’s mouth and through his brain out the top of his head
he had a moment of lost consciousness, but after regaining, he could talk, stand up, and walk with help
phineas’s brain injury impact on him as a person
he retained basic abilities (moving, walking, talking)
intelligence and memory stay intact
personality changed → before the accident he was reliable, calm, and a kind man; after the accident he was irresponsible, hot-headed, and mean…lacked self-control, meaning he had a hard time keeping a job and living independently
lesson from the aftermath of his death: certain parts of the brain are related to certain functions or abilities
Paul Broca did an autopsy on a man with a stroke who lost his ability to speak after, the damage done to a small part near the front of the left side of the man’s brain, labeled as Broca’s Area, highlights the connection between brain regions and particular behaviors
2.2 Activity Within the Brain
Neurons
neurons are the building blocks of the brain → neurons - the cells that facilitate communication within the nervous system
neurons in the brain connect with parts of the body outside of the brain, to receive sensory input from hands