March 17, 2008
A stroke of insight:
We've discussed the remarkable neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor before but I've finally got round to watching her engaging TED talk on her experience of having a stroke, which is now available to watch online.
It's a bit poetic in places. You can almost hear the sound of a thousand cognitive scientists gritting their teeth as she describes the supposed functions of each cerebral hemisphere and probably the sound of some of them fainting when she describes the "deep inner peace circuitry" of the right hemisphere.
Neuroanatomists may notice that this is almost exactly the same sound that occurs when psychologists describe something as a 'frontal' function.
The talk is gripping, however, and the highlight is her description of the day she had her stroke which is both insightful and very funny.
Link to video of Jill Bolte Taylor TED talk (thanks Sandra!)
Link to previous post on Jill Bolte Taylor with links to interview.
—Vaughan.
Posted at March 17, 2008 10:21 AM
Vaughan, you're right. A remarkable video, but as a neuropsychologist my teeth were indeed gritting and gnashing! I can see all the New Age fluffy bunnies (Dave Snowden's term) lapping up the right hemisphere universal energy stuff. Jill Bolte Taylor, however, had a remarkable experience and I suppose her continued euphoria is understandable.
Comment posted at March 17, 2008 02:29 PM
Funny how a lot of what she describes sounds an aweful lot like a psilocybin trip.
Comment posted at March 17, 2008 02:42 PM
One of the things that really strikes me about her description is how similar it is to other reported mystical experiences--she talks about an experienced loss of self, the sense of union/communion with the entire universe, and a particular type of peacefulness or euphoria, all of which are very common ways to describe mystical experiences.
I don't suppose anyone knows of any case studies where some particular brain damage or stimulus incited similar experiences? I don't buy into her apparent reverence for the right brain as a conduit to nirvana, but I'm curious about whether there are other cases where left brain damage contributed to such mystical feelings.
Comment posted at March 18, 2008 06:49 AM
I've been recommending a book by Jill Bolte Taylor called "My Stroke of Insight" to everyone I know. It's an amazing story, both uplifting and powerful on three levels: physical, emotional, and spiritual, but the spiritual aspect alone makes this the best book I've read all year.
How often do you get to hear a neuroscientist describe having a stroke, nearly dying and finding Nirvana, and then making a miraculous recovery so that she's back to teaching medical students!?!
I came away with a renewed sense of understanding, wonder and hopefulness about the capabilities of the human brain. I give "My Stroke of Insight" highest marks!
You can get the book for just $16.47 with free shipping from Amazon!
Comment posted at May 17, 2008 06:50 AM
The New York Times Sunday Newspaper on May 25 had a great two page article on Jill Bolte Taylor and her book, "MY STROKE OF INSIGHT". Her book is a must read and this NY Times article - called "A Superhighway to bliss" is worth checking out too.
Comment posted at May 29, 2008 12:24 PM
I read "My Stroke of Insight" in one sitting - I couldn't put it down. I laughed. I cried. It was a fantastic book (I heard it's a NYTimes Bestseller and I can see why!), but I also think it will be the start of a new, transformative Movement! No one wants to have a stroke as Jill Bolte Taylor did, but her experience can teach us all how to live better lives. Her TED.com speech was one of the most incredibly moving, stimulating, wonderful videos I've ever seen. Her Oprah Soul Series interviews were fascinating. They should make a movie of her life so everyone sees it. This is the Real Deal and gives me hope for humanity.
Comment posted at May 30, 2008 01:46 PM
