Re-examining Paul Broca’s initial presentation of M. Leborgne: Understanding the impetus for brain and language research

The 150th anniversary affords an opportunity to revisit the circumstances surrounding Paul Broca’s case report celebrated today as the moment of discovery of aphasia. The proceedings from January to June 1861 of the Paris Society of Anthropology are examined to reconstruct the events surrounding the report of M. Leborgne on April 18th. From a close reading of the presentations and discussions which took place during this period it is apparent that Broca’s case report was a minor diversion to a debate about cranial measurements and their relation to intelligence in individuals and racial groups. Moreover, it appears that little attention was granted to Broca’s first case at the time. While his ideas about localization and specialization developed and change over the next decade, it represented a minor field of interest for him. Nevertheless Broca’s work on aphasia inspired research throughout Europe and North America and went on to have a lasting impact on both aphasiology and neuropsychology.

► In 1861 Paul Broca reported a case which is celebrated today as the moment of discovery of aphasia.
► In commemoration of this 150 year anniversary, the events surrounding Broca's presentation to the Paris Society of Anthropology are revisited.
► Examination of the Society's proceedings indicates that language localization and specialization of cortical function were not significant issues to the scientists attending these meetings.
► While Broca's paper had little impact at the time it now is regarded as the emblematic foundation of neuropsychology.