Phineas Gage Research Paper

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Phineas Gage Paper Dana Greer February 18, 2012 PSY/360 Jason Lambert Many professionals have try to explain what parts of the brain are connected to cognitive functions. The brains rolling cognitive functions are very complex. Because of Phineas gages accident researchers were able to look deeper into cognitive functions. Cognition is considered the act or process of knowing that includes understanding, reasoning, recollection, awareness, language functions, and perception (Waldstein & Elias, 2003). There are four main sections of the brain with these four sections to each control different functions. Each section of the cortex operates at different cognitive function the cortex is the outer portion of the brain, and below this…show more content…
A brain that may have a psychological or biological disorder can help with the understanding of the different areas of the brain. Neuroscience plays a large part of understanding the brain and its role in cognitive functioning. There is also a strong correlation between cognitive functioning in the person's experience the prefrontal cortex is responsible for making social judgments, weighing alternatives, preparing for the future, and keeping behavior under control (Willingham, 2007). Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia can have great effects on cognitive function within the brain (Walstein & Elias, 2003). Not neurological diseases are not the only problems the brain cases because biological issues can be the cause for cognitive failures as well (Walstein & Elias,…show more content…
According to Kotowicz 2007, "there was a period of high fevers, an abscess, but eventually the wound healed and within two months Gage was pronounced cured, but only up to a point." Because his injury was in the frontal lobe this caused significant changes in his personality. Gage had lived for about another seven years after his accident. The brain is responsible for many different functions. Cognitive functions are associated with certain areas of the brain. With the case of Phineas Gage this shows how brain damage can affect a person's cognitive functioning. Though Phineas Gage survived his accident it showed that with certain parts of the brain becoming injured a person's cognitive function is affected. References Kotowicz, Z. (2007). The strange case of Phineas Gage. History of the Human Sciences, 20115- 131. Retrieved from Sage Journals Online database. Waldstein, S. & Elias, M. (2003). Introduction to the Special Section on Health and Cognitive Function. Health Psychology, 22(6). 555-552. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.22.6.555. Willingham, D. T. (2007). Cognition: The thinking animal (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ. Person/Allyn &

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