Who was man whose brain injury sparked new interest in research?

The correct answer is Phineas Gage.

Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman who survived an accident in 1848 that resulted in a large iron rod being driven through his skull, damaging the frontal lobe of his brain. Following the accident, Gage exhibited dramatic changes in personality and behavior, which fascinated physicians and scientists of the time. His case is often cited as one of the earliest and most famous examples of how brain damage can affect personality and behavior.