BROCA, PAUL

born June 28, 1824, Sainte-Foy-laGrande, Fr. died July 9, 1880, Paris surgeon who was closely associated with the development of modern physical anthropology in France and whose study of brain lesions contributed significantly to understanding the origins of aphasia, the loss or impairment of the ability to form or articulate words. He founded the anthropology laboratory at the cole des Hautes tudes, Paris (1858), and the Socit d'Anthropologie de Paris (1859). Much of Broca's research concerned the comparative study of the craniums of the races of mankind. He used original techniques and methods to study the form, structure, and topography of the brain and sections of prehistoric craniums. In 1861 he announced his discovery of the seats of articulate speech in the left frontal region of the brain, since known as the convolution of Broca. Thus, he also furnished the first anatomical proof of the localization of brain function. Founder of the Revue d'anthropologie (1872), he established the cole d'Anthropologie, Paris (1876), and became its director. His writings include Mmoires d'anthropologie, 5 vol. (187178; Memoirs of Anthropology).