I am taking an online course in Psychology. One of the fascinating facts is about Phineas Gage, a 24 year old railroad employee who was blasting rock.
Whilst using a tamping iron rod to compact the explosive a spark ignited the explosive and shot the iron rod up under his left cheek and out through the top of his head.
He sat on a cart for 45 minutes and upon arriving at the Doctor’s said “here’s work enough for you.” His wound turned septic and he went into a coma. To the surprise of his family, he recovered.
His behaviour changed somewhat, he used profanities had no deference for his colleagues who said he was no longer Phineas Gage.
He lost his job with the railroad and took various odd jobs, including stable hand. His behaviour became more acceptable and he lived another 12 years before epilepsy took his life.
The brain has no pain receptors, which explains how he could sustain such an injury and walk away to chat with his doctor. Changes to his behaviour were linked to the frontal cortex damage. His skull and the tamping rod are on display at Harvard Medical School.
odespinner 