Stroke of Insight

Jill Bolte Taylor is both a brain scientist and a former stroke patient. In the video below, she describes how the two hemispheres of the brain control different abilities and therefore act and respond in completely different ways. With the left side of her brain paralyzed by the stroke, Dr. Taylor was able to view the world with only the right side of the brain which changed the way she would normally perceive the world. Many people would describe a stroke to be a tragedy, but Dr. Taylor describes a beautiful experience that enabled her to see the magnificence of our world while feeling that she was full and perfect without being distracted by the self talk the left side of our brain controls.

She wrote a book about her experience titled Stroke of Insight, which I plan to read. I think you will find her to be a very engaging and passionate speaker. I wish she taught be science when I was younger.

I think this video would be great as an introduction or review when teaching about the brain. It is also great for anyone to see when trying to understand more about how our minds work.