What does phrenology study suggest about brain functions?

Phrenology is a historical study that suggests that the shape and structure of the skull can provide insights into an individual's personality, character traits, and cognitive abilities. The theory, founded by Franz Joseph Gall in the early 19th century, posits that different areas of the brain are responsible for different aspects of human behavior and that the size of these areas can be inferred from the contours of the skull.

Thus, the idea that functions are attributed to the brain's size and skull shape aligns with the core tenets of phrenology. This belief was predicated on the view that larger brain areas indicated stronger capabilities or traits associated with those areas, which would in turn manifest in the skull's bulges or depressions.

Despite being discredited in the modern scientific community, phrenology laid early groundwork for relating specific brain functions to anatomical structures, leading to the eventual understanding of localized brain functions in contemporary neuroscience.