Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science

In 1848, Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman, survived a severe accident near Cavendish, Vermont, when a thirteen-pound iron rod was driven through his brain during a blasting operation. He lived for another eleven years and became an important case study in brain science. Though Gage appeared to recover physically—he could walk, talk, work, and travel—his personality changed dramatically. His Vermont doctor noted that "he was no longer Gage," observing that the original Phineas had been dependable and well-liked, while the changed Phineas became crude and unpredictable. His case astonished doctors of his time and continues to interest medical professionals today. The details of what occurred and did not occur in Gage's brain provide insight into how the brain functions and shapes human behavior.