Our Amazing Brains!
I spend a lot of time in awe and amazement thinking about our amazing human body: the physical component of our human body, and the emotional and spiritual side. I love the body so much I earned my B.S. in nutrition and Ph.D. in molecular biology so I could understand it better. What could be more interesting?
Living with multiple sclerosis for the past fifteen years is also a part of why I think about it so much, sometimes I just can’t NOT think about it—about my mind and how it can possibly function as well as it does with over a dozen lesions interspersed throughout my brain and spinal cord.
["There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, there's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole!" ha ha -- I've always loved this Seasame Street vignette!]
(Nerve fibers are hugged by a myelin sheath to protect and insulate them for better conduction. Lesions are non-functional scar tissue caused by destructive demyelination—an artifact of the MS Army. What I term the ‘MS Army’ [or Ms. MS] is my own body attacking my myelin sheaths.)
Our minds are amazing things. Now, more than ever, the research evidence is pouring in that, as we age or suffer injury or damage, the possibility exists that the brain can rewire itself. We need to use our minds for activity, problem solving, communication, and play—to thrive.
Two things this week have really blown my mind (no pun intended).
1) I read the book, “Stroke of Insight: A brain scientist’s personal journey” by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor (originally published in 2006).
2) I watched a TED lecture delivered to my RSS reader (I follow the TED blog), which featured Temple Grandin.
Click to Order a Copy
I connected twith Dr. Taylor’s book on many levels. Dr. Taylor suffered a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain a few years after she received her Ph.D. in neuroanatomy and had been working as a neuroanatomist in research.
In her book she describes the details of the stroke, which happened over about four hours, from the viewpoint of a neuroanatomist (how cool is that!!?) and went on to chronicle her eight year recovery from not being able to speak, walk, or even sit up on her own to a very functional and happy life.
What really grabbed my interest was the last few chapters where she described activities of the right brain vs. the left brain and how they interact with one another. She also speaks of the nirvana she felt when her left-brain was effectively silenced, muting the Chatty Cathy of the brain and the right hemisphere took over camp.
For people who have suffered any type of brain injury, their families and loved ones, or for any of you looking for ways to tap into an inner peace you may not know is within you, please read this book. Personally, I found the list in Appendix B (Forty Things I Needed the Most) incredibly valuable, as many of the list also apply to me and my MS journey. I’ll be passing this book to my loved ones.
About Temple Grandin…
If you haven’t heard her name before, she’s a high-functioning autistic woman who is a strong proponent of humane treatment of cattle (in feed lots and slaughterhouses). In this video, Temple talked about how her and many other autistic minds work—she thinks in pictures.
From the TED website, “She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.”
I loved watching her lecture, watching her explain things, and just being in her presence. How inspiring! I hope you take time to watch it, it’s about 18 minutes in length, so pick a time to relax and be awed.
Ms. Grandin has also authored many best-selling books and HBO also recently produced a movie about her life called, “Temple Grandin” (Temple is played by Claire Danes). Ms. Grandin received her Master’s Degree in animal science from Arizona State University.
As always, I hope this post finds you happy, healthy, and creating new neuroconnections. Try something different today, learn something new, or take extra time to laugh and make snow angels (er, uh, that’s fog/rain angels in my part of town)!
Please join me in the comment section, have you seen this TED lecture, heard of Temple Grandin, or read Dr. Taylor’s book? What did you think? (If you have questions about MS or need advice, please don’t hesitate to contact me.)
Create a great day!
[For full disclosure, I will receive nothing from Amazon if you order a book via my site and nothing from the TED lectures if you click the video. However, I expect to have my own BOOK available through Amazon and other bookstores someday, or even to present at TED someday. Please send out good vibes for me!]
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Despite Ms. MS, your mind is a beautiful thing, Lori-Bug! I’m always amazed by your intelligence and wit, and also by your gentleness, sweetness, and grace. I always learn something new when I come to your blog, which is a treasure in itself, but it pales in comparison to the treasure of being your friend.
.-= Jay Schryer´s last blog ..What to Eat =-.
Thanks, Jay. That’s such a sweet thing to say. But, being amazed by my intelligence and wit? I’m glad I’ve been able to snow you this long (ha!).
It’s been so wonderful getting to know you better. Having your friendship has been one of the high points from hosting and the hours spent working on my blog. Thanks, Jay, for being who you are!
~xo
Oh Lori, brilliant. I had not heard of Temple Grandin and wow. She does say the same thing about teaching as Helen Keller says.
One to one learning in context is the way to go.
Loved the videos, xox Wilma
Hi Wilma,
I’m super happy you found value and meaning from some of the info here. These two people have made a huge impact in my life, and I woke up one morning thinking to myself, “I NEED to write a post about these amazing women.”
The cool thing is that so many amazing women have commented to me that they agree. Isn’t that fun?
I’m glad you took the time to watch the video, Wilma. Thanks for ‘trusting’ me with your valuable time.
Have a great day!
Hi Lori .. thanks for this – I do hope everyone gets to read Jill’s book .. or listen to her TED lecture, or go to her website and click through to see her interviewed. It is extremely interesting.
I have not heard of Temple Grandin – but I’ll be back to listen to her talk. However I have heard somewhere! that we do need Autistic people at the forefront of things – because of their ability to concentrate and hone in on that one subject that occupies them.
My mother (89) had 3 major strokes over 3 years ago – but her brain is alright .. well not completely obviously .. but she can remember things from yesterday (better than me sometimes – but then my brain is active all over the place – and she is stuck in a bed being nursed .. so her mind can wander) and from six months ago – and if I jog her memory from years past – or something will pop out which is 100% accurate, when I’ve disbelievingly checked it out!!
We had a young American girl with a brain rush – not quite a stroke, but almost and she is healing, but struggling a little – it’s getting the drugs right – which they’ve obviously done for my mother.
MS – must be terrible, but as you do – you keep on the bright side and look forward .. these positives all help the mind feel happier and thus better – with love and thoughts – Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Alpha, Treacle, Beta, Dogger, Snow – what do they mean to you? =-.
Hi Hillary,
I’m happy to hear you’ve found something interesting to investigate. Yippee! Let me know your thoughts if you want, after you’ve seen/read more about Jill.
And, yeah, isn’t Temple amazing? I love her energy and ability to see the best in everyone. I also love that she makes no excuses for herself. She just gets out there and has made huge differences for so many people AND animals despite her challenges!
Thanks for sharing all you did her about your mother. Having three strokes, your mother is quite a trooper. And, the fact that she can still remember such exquisite packets of information, wow. That’s another example of the amazing power of our bodies and minds.
About my MS, I’d definitely not wish this on anyone, but it has proven to be a very good teacher. I do my best to take it in stride — everyone has his or her own battles to fight. Right?
Thanks for the love and thoughts, Hilary, I really do feel them and their positive effect on me. Thank you!
Huge hugs to you!
~xo!
I too have read The Stroke of Insight and just recently watched the movie about Temple Grandin and watched the TED talk. I had a brain injury almost three years ago. I read Ms. Grandin’s book Animals in Translation and Ms. Taylor’s book early after my injury. Both gave me so much hope and inspiration when the medical community did not.
I sustained more damage on my left side and also experienced the kind of nirvana that Taylor describes. Believe it or not, it was kind of nice being brain injured even with all the impairments. I can honestly say that it is probably the first time I have experienced peace.
Through such practices as neurofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture, cranial sacral massage, hypercapnia, visualization, meditation, cross lateral movement, birkram yoga, daily cardiovascular exercise and more, I have made a remarkable recovery and continue to improve. Our brains are neuroplastic, and we can shape them and change them by the things we do repeatedly in our lives. We have much more power to recover from a brain injury, improve our brain’s functioning, and to create our own reality with our brain than we ever thought possible.
My injury has truly been a blessing in disguise. I have learned ways in which to empower myself, harness my inner wisdom, and connect to the universal energy. I feel like I have discovered the magic wand. I am so appreciative to people like Taylor and Grandin who give me hope.
Lori, I did not know we could put our blog info here for you, but I have a blog relaying my journey and the lessons I have learned. Please check it out at http://thebestbrainpossible.blogspot.com
Blessings
Hi Debbie,
Wow, Debbie, you have an amazing story! I visited your blog yesterday and read almost the entire site! You have such a beautiful, lovely, important story.
Thanks so much for sharing your challenges with me (with us at JBN), we can learn a lot from your experiences. I am also a certified massage therapist and had a private practice for awhile in between my science-realted jobs. I love massage (cranial sacral massage, neuro-muscular massage, you name it!) both giving and receiving. I miss my practice and hope to get back to it someday.
All the other modalities you mentioned (visualization, neurofeedback, etc.) are so incredibly valuable, too. I’m glad you mentioned them in your comment and also at your blog.
I second your comment about being grateful for others who have given me hope. Knowing other people have gone though challenge and used their challenges to make the world a better place has give me massive hope, too. Including YOU!
Thank you, Debbie, and I hope to see you around the internet/blogoshpere again real soon! You’re always welcome around here.
Massive hugs and healing vibes to you!!!
~xo!
Hi Lori – Just watched the TED video – amazing woman & presentation – eye opening. I must get to see the movie sometime .. thanks
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Alpha, Treacle, Beta, Dogger, Snow – what do they mean to you? =-.
Yay! I’m really glad you took the time to watch the TED video, Hilary. Thanks for trusting my recommendation and allowing me to steal 18 minutes of your time. Glad it was worth it!
Hi Lori! Let’s all drink to our brains functioning! I read Taylor’s book a few yrs ago – absolutely AWESOME! I learned so much about the human brain from that book. And Temple – want to see the movie now. I watched your video (thank you!!). It sure explains a lot of my own quirky stuff after all these years! Not that this is a scientific diagnosis of the weirdness of me, but it is comforting!
Have an a mighty fine weekend! I’m doing spring visualizations!
hugs
suZen
.-= suzen´s last blog ..Looking At My Desk =-.
Hi Suzen,
Visualize me holding a glass to you and toasting your amazingness! (Is amazingness a word???) ha ha
That’s really COOL that you read Jill’s book! And, yes, I spent some time yesterday trying to figure out where I can order or download a video from the HBO movie about Temple. They have the DVD for sale at Amazon.com — I think I’m going to order it. If you see it soon, let me know where/how you came across it, OK?
I agree that Temple (and Jill) have comforting stories. I have no idea how close to the “spectrum” I am, but I actually have a niece with Asperger’s Syndrome. Who knows, I think EVERYONE I know is a little quirky in one way or another!
I think your spring visualizations are working, by the way. The SUN just came out in SF, can you believe it???
THANK YOU, SUZEN! Yay! Sunshine!
Have a great weekend!
Thank you, Lori… that video was exactly what I needed to watch. It totally confirms that I’m doing the right thing for Hunter. I don’t even have the right words to express how much I enjoyed this, so I’ll just second what Jay said (again).
.-= Lisis´s last blog ..The Pendulum of Caution, Risk, and Reasonable Doubt =-.
You’re welcome, sweets. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I actually had a lot of fun writing it to share with all of you.
I think you’re an amazing mother, Lisis, so don’t you even doubt your motives or change a thing. Hunter is lucky to have you!
Also, please never forget my comment policy. You can come here any time, any day, and just leave me a smiley
and that will be perfect!
I have a “no comment pressure” site here. Just come, put your feet up, read, and leave me with a smile.
I think you are amazing!
Hi Lori:
Great post about something I continue to be fascinated with…the brain. First off, I watched the Sesame Street clip and it really cracked me up, so thanks for helping me work on my word for the year. Oh, by the way, you can follow Sesame Street on Twitter now..it always gives me a smile to read a SS Tweet.
Thanks for sharing your take on this book, I’ve seen it at Borders and was intrigued by it. My grandmother had a stroke more than 10 years ago and it left a woman who loved to talk very silent. It was probably the toughest thing I’ve witnessed. The fact that the author was able to rehab and recover is an amazing story.
Oh, I love what you said at the end of your post. I hope to hear and see you give a TED presentation and I hope you’ll autograph your book for me. Thanks for another great post that left this thinking man with something to chew on. Have a great weekend!
Hi Tim,
This is too funny, I actually PUT the Sesame Street video there with people like you in mind, people who want laughter (I’m with you there, too!!). I can’t get enough of it.
I’m glad it cracked you up! Yay!
Thanks for sharing what you did about your grandmother. I think it is important to remember, all of us, that some people can recover, and even with best efforts and such, some just CAN’T recover. It’s like Randy Prausch says (in his talk, The Last Lecture), it’s really the luck of the draw that a lot of us get cancer, or have a stroke, or MS, or whatever. And to put pressure on people to be “positive” to heal themselves can actually be a dangerous thing. Sometimes even with best efforts just aren’t going to ‘fix’ or cure them.
Even in Temple’s talk, she said about half of people on the autistic spectrum might not even be able to talk or be high-performers, even with one-to-one coaching and the like.
Finally, thanks for noting my final paragraph. I think if I say it enough, eventually it might actually happen! (Of course, that would have to include me continuing to work on these endeavors, right?)!
Thanks for popping by, Tim!
That TED speech by Temple gave me goosebumps. You know, we’re always trying to “fix” people who have different minds like Aspergers and Autism, when in actual fact, we’d be lost as a civilisation without them.
Must read the last couple of chapters of Stroke of Insight. Thanks Chicka, a beautiful, honest, inspirational post.
.-= Sami – Life, Laughs & Lemmings´s last blog ..The Need for Speed…And a Toilet =-.
Hi Sami,
Yes, AGREED! I wish I could clone Temple and let her go into everyone’s home for an evening to let her explain what she spoke about at TED in person. I think this is such an important message.
And, I just realized that I didn’t acknowledge you in my post, but thank you for suggesting I read Stroke of Insight! I think it’s now in the top five books I think are required reading for people dealing with loss, disease, divorce, and/or associated big life changes.
Thank you Sami, I’ll never forget the impact you’ve made in my life. Never!
Now, let’s get out there and change the world (or at least share an evening with a couple of ginger beers and rum!).
Huge, massive hugs to you!
Thanks for your lovely reply. You really are a sweetheart. No worries re the acknowledgement – it wasn’t needed. And just know, you’ve made just as big an impact in my life. Massive hugs back.
.-= Sami – Life, Laughs & Lemmings´s last blog ..The Need for Speed…And a Toilet =-.
Hey
My brother had a brain injury..Hence the book recommendation is very much needed. A very deep thank u.
God bless
Hi Uzma,
I’m glad that I provided some information that might help your and your brother. Please know my thoughts are with you, your brother, and family and friends as you all navigate some very new and difficult waters.
I can’t emphasize enough how much Dr. Taylor’s book helped me learn about additional solutions and gave me more of a reason to meet each day with hope and peace.
All my best! I’ll be sending good vibes your way.
Huge hugs to you!
Lori,
I’ve heard of Dr. Jill Taylor and her book although I’ve not read it. I’m glad you’re writing and teaching us more about MS. I know very little except what I learn from you and my friend and her daughter-in-law.
I loved that song as well and sing it to my grandson Henri. I was a junior in high school when Sesame St. began! I learned it from the nuns in grade school.
About my brain and new stuff does computers, blogs and technology count?!? I often say to the few people who help me out, “Can we trade brains.” My left brain is just the opposite…it doesn’t seem to want to be on much;)
Happy Monday. xo
.-= Tess Bold Life´s last blog ..Bold Solutions For A New World =-.
Hi Tess,
Thanks for your comment about Dr. Taylor as well as your encouragement about speaking about MS. I avoid talking about it often because, well, I just don’t want to be a ‘Debbie Downer’. As I’ve said before, everyone has his or her weight to bear — in whatever form that may take.
I’m glad you liked the Sesame Street song, too. I have a lot of fond memories around that song! I was born in 1970 (SS premiered in 1969), so I suppose I was on of the early adopters. (ha ha)
And, heck yeah!! Blogs and technology ABSOLUTELY count! Why do you think I’m blogging??
Keep reaching for new things, Tess. I think it’s the ‘newness’ of things that continue to improve our quality of life.
Have a GREAT week!
Hi Lori,
You mentioned two amazing people who deserve to be known by everyone. I love how Temple embraces her autism and sees the beauty in it. As for Jill, her book is an awesome read. Did you see her interview with Oprah? I think it is available on iTunes and it is worth watching too.
The human brain is a fascinating machine and we each have a way of looking at life that needs to be nurtured as opposed to conformed.
Did you read Daniel Pink’s book on how being right brained is the way of the future? I am right brain dominant so this book spoke to my soul.
Hope all is awesome!
.-= Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..The Re-Invention Progress Report =-.
Hi Nadia,
Great to see you! How are you? I see you posted a progress report at Happy Lotus, thanks for keeping us ‘up to speed’.
(It’s all very awesome and fun! Good for you!)
Thanks for your words here, too, Nadia. I definitely felt these two amazing women were worth of a post on their own, but to put the two together made sense — I just LOVE their brains and minds!
Thanks for the tip about Daniel Pink. I’ll have to check him out. While I was reading Dr. Taylor’s book, I thought about you quite a bit — how you’ve been able to, “step to the right” in your thoughts and actions. You must be in a blissful place!
I do think the left brain has a very important place, too, we need those train schedulers, mathematicians, and such. But, I think it’s important to recognize that all these tasks be done with the cooperation of the right brain, too.
What a beautiful world it would be to frame all our actions from the right brain’s point of view, yes?
Have a great week, Nadia, and I wish you lots of love while your reinvent!
Hi Lori .. a few more books of interest perhaps to some of your readers .. British oriented granted .. but one is a film ..
& first a massage style: I read in the Times about Butterfly Massage for my mother – practically no touch massage – and found a practitioner, for something practically unknown in this country, Janice has been visiting my Ma for 2.5 years now – at one stage it was 5 times a week!!! The therapy is incredible … and Mum thinks it is brilliant – it might be something you may be interested in ….Richard Overly produced a CD on it, which Janice leant me (I still have it!), “Touch Massage” – if you google it you’ll find out more. He’s an American and Janice nursed babies with Aids and dying babies in the States before returning here .. Well worth you checking it out .. especially if you can find someone locally to learn it .. and help you. We tried it on two other patients – a lady with a brain tumour and her husband said it made a huge difference, and on a child with learning difficulties and her father said he was amazed -she’d never been that quiet.
The books – short and succinct:
1) Jen-Dominique Bauby “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” – book and film .. massive stroke, editor of French Elle, completely paralysed … dictated with one eyelid ..
2) Robert McCrum – “My Year Off” – was Editor-in-Chief of Faber and Faber .. had just got married at 42 to an American lady .. had a stroke and it’s their story – from both sides = that’s what I found interesting.
3) Mark Haddon”The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” – a detective novel about a 15 year old with Asperger’s ..
4) Alexander Masters – “Stuart – a Life Backwards” ..thief, hostage taker, psycho … it’s an interesting (not nice!) story told backwards to where Stuart started from – but enlightening …
The Butterfly Massage I’d highly recommend ..
Go well – and thoughts for a good rest of the week .. Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..The Middle Ages of the web – ancient pathways, monastic steps, St David yesterday, St Chad today and lines of communication … =-.
Thank you, Hillary!
Thanks for all this great information. I really appreciate it. I’m a certified massage therapist and can’t say enough about massage in any modality. I think it is amazing and incredibly healing. I’ll have to look into what you have mentioned here.
Also, big thanks for the book/movie recommendations. I will check them out.
Be well and I’m sending you and your mother healing vibes!
~xo!
Thanks very much Lori .. have a good Sunday .. all positive energy helps us – and Mum is ‘better’ .. she can hear again, the throat infection seems to be going .. but she’s very weak – but that’s to be expected – thanks so much for your thoughts .. you too be peaceful xxoo
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Fussbudget .. a bore, or a boar … =-.
Thank you for the enlightening article, Lori! The brain is an amazing wonder, and we are still to reveal its numerous secrets. Thank you for sharing the TED lecture! It was insightful!
Blessings! =)
Pres
.-= Pres´s last blog ..The 3 Globbleristic Spheres of Life =-.
Hi Pres,
Welcome to JBN and thanks for taking the time to leave me with a thoughtful comment.
I believe that one of the most interesting fields of study these days is understanding the human mind and brain. We still have so much to learn and to discover.
I am happy you enjoyed the TED lecture; I hope it moved you as much as it did me.
Blessing back to you. Be well and create a great week this week. I hope to see you again real soon.
