born June 28, 1824, Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Fr.
died July 9, 1880, Paris
French surgeon.
His study of brain lesions contributed significantly to understanding of the origins of aphasia. Much of Broca's research concerned the comparative study of the skulls of the races of humankind, work that aided the development of modern physical anthropology. He originated methods to study the brain's form, structure, and surface features and sections of prehistoric skulls. His discovery (1861) of the brain's speech centre (convolution of Broca) was the first anatomical proof of localization of brain function.