brain damaged patients case studies

Question 1

phineas gage

Answer 1

• experience a traumatic brain injury
• a metal rod penetrated through his frontal lobe of his brain
• following this penetration, he was observed to have dramatic behaviour changes
• A month after his accident his temprament changed although his memories stayed the same.
• He was childish, irritable and refused to follow instructions
• his behaviour was seen as unreliable and he was swearing more often with more crude remarks
• damage to the brain can have an effect on our behaviour and personality
• this case study suggests we have localisation of function (i.e our frontal lobe is responsible for self-control and aggression)

Question 2

charles whitman

Answer 2

• prior to Charles Whitman’s shootings he had been to 5 doctors and psychiatrists about his aggressive urges
• charles whitman murdered his mum, wife and more than 20 other individuals from a bell tower in Texas
• he was then shot by police during this mass shooting incidence
• it was found in the autopsy that he had a small tumour pressing on his amygdala
• this case study suggest that damage to individual brain structures can cause aggression and impulsive actions