PHINEAS GAGE PAPER

Phineas Gage Paper

Phineas Gage Paper

This paper will discuss the role that cognitive function plays on the brain, as well as explaining how Phineas Gage's accident support how the brain deals with cognitive function. When exploring cognitive function, one will find that it is termed as an intellectual or logical process that makes a person aware, comprehend or perceive ideas. Cognitive function would include any and all characteristics of one's perception; these are sensing, reasoning, and conception, imagining and remembering. However, there is a flip side to cognitive function and it is classified as being a cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is when one has a difficult time in reacting to or dealing with new or unusual circumstances. When an individual looses their cognitive function, it affects them tremendously.

For many years, scientist and researchers have recognized that every wonder of one's mind comes from one's brain. There are several ways to show how the brain cells maintain cognitive processes. The cerebrum is a section of the brain where Cognitive functions begins. The cerebrum is also called the cerebral cortex. It also takes up most of the brains mass. The cerebrum is essentially made up of four diverse areas. These areas are also called lobes. These areas have a task that they are responsible for; however, most of these areas serve a cognitive function. These functions consist of speaking, emotions, problem-solving abilities, learning, movement and perception. Certain task such as speaking, reading, and learning will require coordinated processing from various areas of a person's cerebrum. Within the cerebrum, there are fibers that pass on signals from one cell to another. These signal transmitters are synchronized by chemicals that are created by nerve cells. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.

Cognitive functions depend on neurotransmitter processes, to bring whatever indicators that are delivered amid the different areas of a person's brain. Signal transmissions are needed to pass between the left and right parts of the brain for accurate cognitive functions. Phineas Gage worked on a railroad, and had a life-changing accident that made medical history. The accident occurred on September 13, 1848 when an accidental explosion caused an iron from the railroad to go straight through the frontal part and on the left region of Phineas Gage's head. Not only was he lucky to have survived, it was a miracle that he survived this accident. Gage made medical history to this date. It also appeared that Gage functioned very well.

Prior to Gage's accident, he was a very proficient foreman and very capable of performing his job duties. Gage's mind was well-balanced, and was looked upon as an insightful well-groomed business man; however, after the incident he was obstinate and impatient. He was also very disturbed and grossly disrespectful, showing little respect towards his coworkers. These problems were instantly recognizable that something actually had occurred after Gage's incident. There was no doubt that the accident had caused him some significant changes behaviorally.

The injuries that Gage sustained to his brain started to ...