BROCA-TAN

(1861)
Aim

• To investigate the localisation of function in a patient called “Tan.”

• Broca wanted to investigate Tan’s unusually language ability/capability

by studying his brain.

Method
• Broca studied a patient over a number of years (as it was a longitudinal
study), known as “Tan,” because it was one of the few sounds he could
make.

• After Tan died, Broca conducted a post-mortem autopsy on this patient

(and several others) to figure out what part of the brain caused his or
similar conditions.
Results:

• After performing the autopsy, he now had evidence that damage to a

specific area of the brain was responsible for the loss of ability to produce
coherent speech.

• This area became known as Broca’s area.

• The effects of damage to this part of the brain can most easily be observed
in the speech of stroke victims, many of whom are temporarily or
permanently unable to produce language, a condition known as Broca’s
aphasia.
 TAN’S
BRAIN

Damaged Part

BROCA’
S AREA
Conclusion:
• Broca concluded that the area named after him (Broca’s area) is
responsible for an impairment of language in a person.

• Through this study, new understanding and research had arised of

“localised functions” of different parts of the brain, as a result of this
finding from early research into the brain by scientists such as Broca.

• VIDEO -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIo_500V1LM