The Brain and Cognitive Functioning

The Brain and cognitive Functioning Jessica Johnson PSY 360 March 11, 2013 Donna M. Glover-Rogers, Ph. D The Brain and Cognitive Functioning The following describes the role of the whizz and the push it has on a persons cognitive functions, including how injury to certain part of the superstar can affect specific cognitive functions while going former(a)s intact. To support this idea we look at the case of Phinneas hatful, and how his header injury affected his cognitive abilities. In order to go through what role the brain plays in cognitive work one must understand cognitive functioning and what it is.Cognitive functioning refers to a persons ability to coordinate thought and accomplish as well as the ability to direct it towards a goal. It is needed to overcome environmental obstacles, organize plans and execute complex sequences of behavior. When a person thinks, gives their attention to something, has or feels some kind of emotion, makes a plan, learns a new task or in formation, or recalls a memory they are using their cognitive functioning all of which starts in the brain. As the world has progressed so has science and engineering science as theses fields gestate grown so has the ability to learn about the brain and how it works.Today we know that the brain is do up of millions small parts all working together to serve a final outcome. However technology is not the only thing that assists researchers in the study of the brain people who have suffered traumatic brain injury have equally aided scientist in understanding how the brain functions. One of the most funny examples of the impact a brain injury can have on a persons life is that of Phinneas Gage. This case proves to be one of the first to confirm that damage to a persons frontal lens cortex could result in a significant constitution qualify despite other neurological functions remain intact.In September of 1848 an accidental explosion caused a 20 pound iron celestial pole from the railroad tracks to penetrate Gages Left cheek bone and exiting just behind his right hand temple (BSCS 2005). To anyones shock Gage never lost consciousness through the injury however, the injuries to his brain caused a complete change in personality. Prior to the accident Gage was reported to be simmer down and collected man. He was said to be very level-headed and it was reported by his supervisors that his calm demeanor made him the best foremen on his team. The trauma to Gages brain caused a severe and unpleasant change in his character.Upon recovering and returning to work he was said to be highly volatile, full of rage, importunate and vulgar. Despite making a full physical recovery his behavior made such a negative change he was never able to work as a foreman again. Gages case was one of the first and often considered the most dramatic cases of personality change caused by brain injury that has ever been documented. The injuries that Gage sustained to his brain raised s everal questions about the impact the brain has on cognitive functioning. It has become clear that a common side-effect of frontal lobe damage is drastic change in ones behavior.An individuals personality can significantly transfigure after damage to the frontal lobes, particularly when both lobes are involved (Hernandez, 2008). Many important things were larn from Gages life altering accident, first and possibly most important it shows that not every brain injury will cause death. In addition researchers learned that not all brain injuries will cause loss to all brain functions (2008). Although being over 100 years oldish the injury Phineas Gage suffered to his brain is still known as one of the most edu spillional injuries in history.Not only did it prove one could survive such a traumatic injury to the brain only if it proved they could still function physically and mentally. This case was also the first to prove that the frontal cortex of the brain directly impacts personali ty, and although one could recover to physically function as they had before the altered personality may never change. Along with cases like Phinneas Gage, advancements in technology have given researchers a imagine of how the brain controls cognitive functioning but to what extent remains unclear.References Hernandez, Christina. (2008). Phineas Gage. Retrieved March 08, 2013 from http//www. associatedcontent. com/article/831073/phineas_gage_pg3. html? cat=4 National Institue of Health Office of Science Education BSCS (2005). Retrieved March 07, 2013 from http//science. education. nih. gov/supplements/nih4/self/guide/info-brain. htm Willingham, D. T. (2007). intuition The thinking animal (3rd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson/Prentice Hall. Retrieved from Ebsco Host