Stroke of insight - Jill Bolte Taylor

TED-Ed2 minutes read

The speaker shares her experience of a stroke affecting her brain's left hemisphere, leading to a sense of euphoria and connection to the present moment. Despite the challenges, she emphasizes the power of choosing inner peace to create a more peaceful world.

Insights

  • Growing up studying the brain due to her brother's schizophrenia, the speaker delved into researching severe mental illnesses, eventually mapping brain micro circuitry in Boston to distinguish between normal and diagnosed brains.
  • Following a life-altering brain hemorrhage on December 10, 1996, the speaker experienced the shutdown of her left hemisphere, leading to a profound sense of euphoria and connection to the energy around her, emphasizing the power of choice in perceiving the world and advocating for tapping into the peace circuitry of the right hemisphere to spread inner peace globally.

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Recent questions

  • What happened to the speaker on December 10, 1996?

    Stroke

  • How did the stroke affect the speaker's brain hemispheres?

    Left hemisphere shut down

  • What did the speaker emphasize about perception and choice?

    Power of choice

  • How did the speaker's background influence her research?

    Brother's schizophrenia

  • What did the speaker believe could positively impact the world?

    Choosing peace

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Summary

00:00

Choosing Peace: A Stroke Survivor's Journey

  • The speaker grew up studying the brain due to her brother's schizophrenia diagnosis, leading her to research severe mental illnesses.
  • She worked in a lab in Boston, mapping the micro circuitry of the brain to understand differences between normal and diagnosed brains.
  • On December 10, 1996, she experienced a brain hemorrhage, watching her brain deteriorate rapidly.
  • The brain has two separate hemispheres, with the right processing the present moment through sensory experiences and the left focusing on past, future, and language.
  • During the stroke, her left hemisphere shut down, leading to a sense of euphoria and connection to the energy around her.
  • Despite the stroke affecting her ability to speak and understand language, she managed to call for help using visual cues.
  • After surgery to remove a blood clot, it took her eight years to fully recover from the stroke.
  • She emphasizes the power of choice in how we perceive the world, advocating for tapping into the peace circuitry of the right hemisphere.
  • The speaker believes that by choosing inner peace, individuals can project more peace into the world, creating a more peaceful planet.
  • She concludes by highlighting the importance of spreading the idea of choosing peace as a way to positively impact the world.
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