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| Source: http://www.doctorsimpossible.com/the-curious-case-of-phineas-gage/ |
In 1848 Phineas Gage was working in Vermont as a foreman the
crew preparing a railroad. The task involved placing an explosive charge deep
into a rock by drilling a hole. During that task the
accident occurred. His tamping rod, which measured 109 cm long and 3 cm in
diameter unexpectedly ignited the gunpowder. The iron rod went
through Gage’s head and landed 25 meters away. But, to everyone’s surprise,
Gage seemed unharmed and did not even lose his consciousness.
Gage
survived the accident and was taken to his house. During the weeks after, he endured a period in which he lost
his consciousness and regained it a few hours later. Afterwards, the doctors
anticipated his death. However, months later, Gage regain his strength and was
able to return to work, but he did not regain his full health. After the incident,
his co-workers began to notice difference in his personality. Normally
cheerful, kind and friendly, Gage became aggressive and selfish. Ladies were
warned to stay away from him. One of his doctors, namely Dr John Harlow wrote:
"manifesting but
little deference for his fellows, impatient of restraint or advice when it
conflicts with his desires, at times pertinaciously obstinate, yet capricious
and vacillating, devising many plans of future operation, which are no sooner
arranged than they are abandoned in turn for others appearing more feasible.”
Source https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/the-artful-brain/the_brain_part_1?isForcedMobile=Y |
| Source: https://littlemountainpublishing.biz/phineas-gage-brain-science-touchstone-popular-culture-icon |
This accident not only changed the life of Phineas Gage, but
it would later alter the course of science as well. Previously, the main thinking
was that the brain and the soul where two separate entities, a philosophy
called dualism. But it become clear that the damage of his brain had caused
changes in his personality.
Since
then, scientists have been analysing Gage's injury with newer and better technology.
In 1994 they reconstructed his skull and determine the exact placement of
injury. They proved that he suffered injuries to prefrontal cortices, which
resulted in a problem with rational decision-making. In 2004 they found out the
damage was limited to the frontal lobe and in 2012 researchers estimated that the
metal robe destroyed approximately 15 percent of his brain.
Questions:
- Have you heard about this case before?
- Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
- Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
- Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
Sources:
Comments
2. Actually yes, some time ago while playing Deus Ex I started to wonder where is the limit of possible augmentations to human body and I came to the conclusion that it could be impossible to build a replacement for human brain. As an “IT guy” it is quite obvious that I try to imagine the brain as a component similar to a microprocessor, but that’s definitely not enough, as the scientists did not manage to model the brain till the present day. It is possible that it would never happen, because “if the human brain was simple enough for us to understand, we would still be so stupid that we couldn't understand it”. Anyway, possible or not, if we could model the brain and create a complete replacement, then we would finally get rid of all the vulnerability of human body.
3. Yes, if somebody is mentally ill, he could not be blamed for anything including offence and crimes. How could we blame a man who doesn’t know what he does as it is not an outcome of his free will? It is the duty of authorities to isolate dangerous men from society and try to keep their lives comfortable. Moreover, try to imagine a person who committed a terrible crime and completely lost all memories afterwards. Should such person be cleared of all charges? In my humble opinion – yes, without any doubt.
4. No, I have never heard of it. Through all those years of education I have never really needed to find any unusual ways of learning. Simple, traditional hard work and being focused on a topic – that’s all what was necessary. However, if someone finds it hard to learn, such methods are here to help.
I have never heard about it but it was interesting to read.
2.Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
I think that every person wonder how brain works just because its a great mistery. A mussle that starts working when we are born and stops when we die. Its like average at least 60 years of constant work, its just insane.
3.Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
No because nothing should be justified by an illness that involves harming other person... If a person is ill he should be separated from others when he is a threat to others. Of course when we already know about the illness
4.Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
No, I have never heard about it. But to be honest I have never used any different ways of learning.
2. Of course, I have thought about it many times, but unfortunately I have little knowledge about it.
3. A difficult question. I think that every case should be considered separately. In addition, I think that I have too little knowledge in this topic to decide.
4. I have heard but I do not use.
No, I haven’t heard about it but I think it’s a really interesting story and it’s certainly meaningful for the development of a medicine.
2. Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
I have wondered a lot about it and it always fascinates me. The full power of our brains is still not discovered and examined. But even with the knowledge we already have it is so mind-blowing.
3. Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
It is a very hard, moral, ethical and philosophical question. It could depend on if you are somehow connected with a victim or an offender. On the one hand an ill person does bad things unconsciously and shouldn’t be blamed for it, but on the other hand when somebody close to you was hurt, the offender’s mental sickness is not any justification for you, and you don’t think about it. So it always depends..
4. Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
I haven't heard about this method before, but I’ve just read about it because I found it intriguing. If someone is interested in various methods of learning I can recommend a good book called “Włam się do mózgu” by polish author Radek Kotarski.
This question has long been answered and it is the judgment has been working for quite a long time that if it is proven that a person is psychiatrically ill, then this is an excuse for his actions. I think this is correct, because a person does not adequately perceive the world and does not give an account of his actions.
I have not yet had to use brain-based learning, but I’m sure that I will think about it sometime.
I think I saw a similar case in some of the films.
2.Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
Our brain is infinitely complex. When we learn something new about him, we add even more questions to the unknown.
3.Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
Mental illness should not justify crime. Such people are simply placed in mental hospitals until the end of life, it is for them equal to prison.They are dangerous not only for society but also for themselves.
4.Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
I've never heard of it, so I take it it's a book? I wonder if it is available in other languages,not only in English.
1. I have never heard about this case, but it seems to me that I have seen such a case somewhere, probably in the old film? I don't remember.
2. Yes, I have wondered a lot and many times, but unfortunately my knowledge about brains is minimal. But no doubt, our brains have very complicated construction. I once read the article that even scientists have not been able to explain fully how our brains work. And certainly for the next several or dozen years they will not know until medicine is more developed.
3. This is very difficult question and it is very hard to answer it. In short, if we know about mental illness, we should cure the person properly and if it creates danger to people, this person should be isolate.
4. Nope, I haven't heard of brain-based learning? And if I haven't, so logically I do not use it to learn.
I have never heard about this before, and I’m really glad that you have made a presentation about this, because I find it fascinating!
Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
Of course I have, it’s so fascinating how this mass of neurons is.. well me. It’s incomprehensible even for scientists, how all of it works.
Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
Oh boy, it’s a really hard topic, but I think that in some cases mental illness can justify some behaviors, but it’s becoming more common to fake mental episodes to avoid jail time, so I don’t really know what to think about it.
Apropos of the first question, no, I have not heard anything about this matter.
I often wonder how the human mind works. At times, I have the impression that I know something, but with further reflections, I think that it is different. The human brain is very interesting, but it's probably impossible to know how it works 100%.
Crimes involving people with disabilities are difficult. Anyway, if a man does something bad he should be punished for his fault. Insanity is not an excuse, only a different way of life.
It seems to me that I have not heard of brain-based science. My way of learning is simple. I read once and then do something unrelated to the subject. In this way I remember a lot in a simple way.
No I didn't. Was interesting to read your post.
Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
I wonder about how people can produce such complex ideas and how different people with the same structure of body and brain can be so proficient in different things and profane in another.
Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
I think you meant "offense". About whom are you talking about? There was no information in the regarding this question.
Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
No I didn't. I expect questions related to topic, not random ones.
Of course, I wonder how my body even works all the time, especially given the student life style.
Jokes aside, the mental illness as a court excuse is a pretty wide topic, that’s not a yes or no question.
Having been subjected to the public education system, I do believe that most of us here are victims of brain based learning, willing or not. Personally I just use repetitions and associations when I need to cram.
When it comes to neurological approach to how our brain's work i have been lectured about that couple times too, while its still mostly "guessing" on our part, i feel like achieving deeper or even complete understanding of how they work and how to reproduce their work could enable us to transcendent outside of our human bodies.
When it comes to liability of an individual, i think that any first offence while should be punished, should not be treated as everyone else. That mentality will work only if afterwards (after learning about ones illness) they go to treatment, get taken care of, it they dont you might as well imprison them for life.
I didn’t hear about this case, but I heard about similar thing in tv like gunshot, nails or some part of fence that was nailed in their heads. It’s looks so creepy.
2. Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
No, I didn’t. I know some random stuff from tv and internet but I’m not too curious at this moment.
3. Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
No, it should not justify the offence committed by that person. Why you ask, well mental illness is not something that can be easy cured. I know that there is some medicine but sooner or later they will stop taking them they are simply ticking bomb.
4. Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
No, I didn’t. What kind of learning technique it is? It’s sounds dangerous.
Yes, I have heard about this accident at school at biology class.
2. Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
Yes, I was always interested how brain works, and I had very interesting biology classes at school. During those classes I found out a lot of interesting information about human brain and how it works. For me it was very interesting to know how our body works, how such a lot processes inside us effect on our feelings, emotions and decisions.
3.Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
I do not think that mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person, because anyway we have laws. Moreover, according to laws person with mental illness, that is dangerous for people or for self, should must undergo compulsory treatment at the appropriate institution.
4.Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
Unfortunately, I have never heard about brain-based learning.
Yes, I have met with this case many times before. I could also explore it a little more during Neural Computing classes at our university.
2. Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
Yes! As much as possible, I have researched this subject many times, but the closest thing to my heart is the subject of the brain performing many things in parallel. It is proved that the brain can process two things in parallel if it does not affect the same areas of the brain. However, over the years, people who have to deal with technology since childhood show the possibility of triple- and four-tasking.
3. Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
I believe that mental illness, however deep it may be, should not be an excuse for committed crimes. In another case, there were frequent abuses through which people could apply for a lighter punishment. If someone is mentally ill and may pose a threat to others even without having self-awareness, they should be separated from society for the safety of both sides.
4. Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
Yes, I have heard about many, but not all of them work on me. Training based on mirror neuron exercises works best for me.
I haven't heard about this case before. Honestly, i'm not interested in how our brain works, it is not a thing, we should waste our time for.
Sepaking about mental illness, i heard a lot about typical situations on TV, internet, i can't say why people do criminal or weird things. Maybe the lack of attention from others makes them to do it or maybe it is illnesses.
I have never heard about brain-based learning, as i mentioned, i'm not interested in it.
Unfortunately, I have not heard about this case before.
2. Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
I was interested our brain processes such as how our feelings are working, what they are based on. But for me the most important question was does our brain makes our personality? Am I myself only because of some unique neuron connections or some hormone proportions?
3. Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
There are some mental illnesses that make person unable to adequately perceive reality. In suck cases person should be justified, but also he/she should be at a special institution that can make care and save that person.
4. Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
Unfortunately, I have never heard about such kind of learning.
1. Have you heard about this case before?
No, but it’s was very interesting to read about it, seems like i saw something like this in some TV serial:)
2. Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
Ofcourse, why we sleep, how we love, why we did what we did. I like to read about some serial killer, like Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, or Sigismund Schlomo Freud.
3. Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
No, i think we need to observe people like this learn and try to heal it, and try to find people like this before something can happen.
4. Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
I dont hear about this already, but seem pretty good.
2. Yes, I have been wondering and I'm still curious about how brain works and how our personality or emotions are affected by organic compound. In my opinion human beings are completely dependent on the drugs. Most people are unaware of the fact that our organism produce many substances that can be found in the medicines and in order to function properly we should take them as supplements to benefit our health.
3. To be honest I am not sure. Law says that unfamiliarity don't remove us from responsibility to obey rules but what if we experience a situation when mental illness is so advance that person is not capable of understanding. I'm not saying that this should justify the offense but at least should be consider.
4. This is my first time hearing about brain-based learning. To this point I developed my own way of learning but not long ago I bought a book about mnemonic techniques and I learned a few things that helps in remembering new worlds so maybe I will give it a try.
I've never thought over how my brains works.
I think that actual law is fair. Mentally ill person should be placed in psychiatric hospital. They are often unaware of their actions and they can't distinguish a good form evil. It's hart to judge the beavior of such people.
I've never heard about brain-based learnig.
2. The idea of self is so fascinating. I personally think it's just an external experience and nothing more, the brain just gives you a viewer and motor control and the conscience gives you an impression that you are somebody when in fact everybody is nobody.
3. If someone commits a crime, the first step should be to determine whether or not they did it. Capacity doesn't matter - only whether or not they did it.
The second step should be to determine capacity. If they are not sane, then they can be directed to a mental hospital or other appropriate treatment.
If someone is capable of committing a crime, then they should be off the streets no matter whether they understand what they did.
4. No, first time hearing about this kind of learning
Yes,many times, You can get a golden shovel award for digging this.
Have you ever wondered how does your brain work?
Just like computers I bet. Its quite same machinery.
Do you think mental illness should justify the offence committed by that person? Why?
Every 7 years every cell in your body is replaced. Should you be treated as different person?
Have you heard of brain-based learning? Do you use it to learn?
Never heard if it. Aren't we use it all the time, like you know. you use brain?
2. I think anyone at least once has stopped to think how our brain works.
3. I think it's important for scientists and society to understand how brain damage can impact ones behaviour as well as mental ilnesses. Deeper understanding of the subject can help us treat such cases and/or prevent offenses like that from being comitted.
4. I never heard the English name for it, however I did hear about the method itself. I personally don't use the method- I kinda just sit down and study whatever I have to- I don't put a lot of thought into the process itself.