Paul Broca is best known for his role in the discovery of specialized functions in different areas of the brain. In 1861, he was able to show, using post-mortem analysis of patients who had lost the ability to speak, that such loss was associated with damage to a specific area of the brain. The area, located toward the front of the brain's left hemisphere, became known as Broca's convolution. Along with its importance to the understanding of human physiology, Broca's findings addressed questions concerning the evolution of language.

Broca, the son of a Huguenot doctor, was born near Bordeaux, France. After studying mathematics and physical science at the local university, he entered medical school at the University of Paris in 1841. He received his M.D. in 1849. Though trained as a pathologist, anatomist and surgeon, Broca's interests were not limited to the medical profession. His versatility and tireless dedication to...