How did Giambattista Vico’s childhood head injury affect his early life?

When Giambattista Vico was seven years old, he suffered a severe head injury after falling from a ladder in his family's home. Although the physician at the time predicted the accident would result in death or imbecility, Vico recovered from the physical trauma.1

Following the injury, his temperament shifted, and he became notably stern and melancholy. Vico later reflected on this change in his autobiography, suggesting that such a disposition is characteristic of individuals who possess profound and active spirits.1