Science history: Doctor autopsies the brain of a man who couldn’t speak — and reveals the seat of spoken language — April 18, 1861

QUICK FACTS Milestone: Autopsy on famous patient “Tan” Date: April 18, 1861 Where: Bicêtre Hospital, outside Paris Who: Dr. Paul Broca On April 18, 1861, a doctor in Paris cut open the brain of a patient who had died the day before — and unwittingly identified a brain region that’s key to spoken language. The…

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