TEDtalks 2008: Jill Bolte Taylor - My stroke of insight

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another.
gwiz665says...

If she had asked for a visacard number at the end this was a perfect new age hippie emulation.

That being said it's an interesting talk and an interesting recount of the experience. It's a fascinating theory of the brain and mind I think it could be cool if there were done some more study on it.

Raigensays...

I was enthralled and taken aback all at the same time watching this. She definitely had an experience that was sincerely genuine and life changing. However, I fear that the euphoric and spiritual way she describes it is more than just a metaphor for her. I get the impression she truly believes some of the "we are spiritual beings" pseudoscience after her experience. I can equate it mildly to what some of the Apollo Astronauts experienced on their trips. They experienced feelings of "one-ness" and euphoria when they connected with what was happening to them. Some of them returned as die-hard Christians and believers in God, while others came back understanding the way in which all things are connected in the Universe, that we are all made of the same "Star Stuff", and should be kinder and more caring towards each other and our planet.

I'm not sure, I'd had to do some more research on her and her work, but I do fear that she's taken something very literally "spiritual" from her experience, and does not equate that to what was actually happening to her. Since it was all occuring inside her own mind, all be it, on the right hemisphere. It certainly is an interesting anecdote, and case study, on the affects of having no communication between the two hemispheres, where you are only receiving information from the right, no aware of what the left is experiencing.

And I upvote almost purely for "Then I finally thought, wait a minute, I'm having a stroke! This is so cool!"

boksinxsays...

it's good to listen to a scientific people (a neuroanatomist for that matter) describing her near-death experience with very detailed believable story telling. A breath of fresh air from some cuckoo head narrating their own near-death experience with some over-the-top bullshit of exaggerations.

What I learned from this? The brain is a fucking magnificent thing.

Send this Article to a Friend



Separate multiple emails with a comma (,); limit 5 recipients






Your email has been sent successfully!

Manage this Video in Your Playlists




notify when someone comments
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
  
Learn More