In the June 5th progress report in the novel Flowers for Algernon, Charlie has received the operation that will make him "smart" and has rapidly progressed in knowledge and intelligence, surpassing the scientists who created the experimental procedures. Charlie Gordon was a man who had the mental capacity of a child. In the story, scientists have created an experimental surgical procedure that will accelerate the mental processes of mice and want to use it on Charlie to see if they can accelerate his mental capacity as well.

The parallels between Charlie and the mouse, Algernon, are so great that Charlie is only slightly behind Algernon's rise and fall. He observes Algernon's deterioration, noting that his motor function was becoming impaired, and he was showing signs of progressive amnesia. Charlie understands, because of the equations and formulas he created, that he will deteriorate rapidly just like Algernon. He observes the beginning of this when he notes that he has noticed signs of emotional instability and forgetfulness in himself. In the following quote, Charlie is explaining his upcoming deterioration but has progressed so far mentally that even though he understands his fate, he is still interested in its contribution to scientific knowledge. 

The surgical stimulus to which we were both subjected has resulted in ALGERNON an intensification and acceleration of all mental processes. The unforeseen development, which I have taken the liberty of calling the Algernon-Gordon Effect, is the logical extension of the entire intelligence speed-up. The hypothesis here proven may be described simply in the following terms: Artificially increased intelligence deteriorates at a rate of time directly proportional to the quantity of the increase. I feel that this, in itself, is an important discovery.