The Brain of Phineas Gage.
In case you're not familiar with Gage, he has one
of the most shocking incidents I've ever read about it when it comes to brains.
His story goes like this:
In 1848, Gage was a foreman of crew cutting a
railroad. He used an iron to pack explosive powder into a hole, but as he
turned his back the powder suddenly exploded, propelling the tamping iron through
his head. The tamping iron was 48 inches long, 1.25 inches in
diameter, and weighed about 14 pounds. It went through his left cheek, then his
brain, and exited the other way. When his crew went to check on him he suddenly
got up, without seeming to realize there was a hole through his head. According
to the doctor who treated him, Martyn Harlow, you could see into his head.
Literally. He was treated, and returned home 10 weeks later. He claimed he
never lost consciousness throughout the entire event.
However, the iron had brought unforeseen results.
His personality completely changed. He was suddenly capricious, lacked money
sense, and became "fitful and irreverent, indulging at times in the
grossest profanity."
So yeah. My opinion of the weirdest brain. Wasn't
born like this, but an incredible event culminated in one of the most
incredible brains.
Phineas Gage and the Iron that went
through his head.
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