Putting Phineas Together Again

Who is Phineas Gage, and why is he significant in the study of the brain?

• A famous scientist known for discovering the frontal cortex

• A patient whose story illustrates the role of the frontal cortex in decision-making

• A doctor who treated patients with brain injuries

• A researcher who developed MRI technology

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

What part of the brain is associated with making decisions and interacting with others?

• Occipital lobe

• Temporal lobe

• Frontal cortex

• Parietal lobe

What type of scans do the Damasios use to study brain injuries?

• X-rays

• Ultrasound

• MRI and CT scans

• PET scans

What is a reliable sign of emotional response according to the Damasios?

• Heart rate

• Sweaty palms

• Pupil dilation

• Breathing rate

What behavior do modern-day Phineases exhibit in the gambling game experiment?

• They choose decks C and D, which are better choices

• They avoid taking risks

• They consistently choose decks A and B, despite knowing C and D are better

• They refuse to participate in the game

What did Hanna Damasio do in 1994 to study Phineas Gage's skull?

• She created a 3D model from scratch.

• She asked Dr. Albert Galaburda to x-ray and photograph the skull.

• She visited the Harvard Medical School to study other skulls.

• She used a computer simulation to recreate the skull.

Where did Hanna Damasio conduct her research on Phineas Gage's skull?

• Harvard Medical School

• Her lab in Iowa

• A museum in New York

• A hospital in Boston

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CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

What was the purpose of digitizing the results of Phineas's skull?

• To create a new skull model

• To overlay onto a 3D computer image of a generic human skull

• To compare with other patients' skulls

• To preserve the skull for future studies