Our brain can heal itself – level 1

Our brain can heal itself

02-12-2025 15:00

In 1848, construction worker Phineas Gage has a bad accident. An iron rod goes through his head and hurts the front part of his brain. Gage does not die, but his personality changes. He is not kind and organized anymore.

This event is important for doctors. It shows that the brain and personality are connected to some parts of the brain. Gage later finds work in Chile. His job is repetitive. For Gage, it is a therapy. His brain must learn to work differently.  Doctors learn that the brain can change.

Gage’s accident starts a new field of neuroscience. It teaches us that the brain can adapt and recover from serious injuries.

Difficult words: rod (a thin, straight, solid bar), brain (the organ inside the head), personality (how you act and what you think), repetitive (when something happens again and again).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

How did Gage’s repetitive job in Chile help his brain recover?

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