A stroke of insight

Our brain is fascinating in its interaction of neurons and hemispheres. How elaborate particularly the interplay between the two hemispheres becomes obvious during brain injury. It is a balance between me and we, now and then. This week we do not have an objective study, but rather a shared experience and very subjective experience for our readers: a shift between the left and the right hemisphere being in control, a shift between the me and we, the now and then.

 

After a massive stroke, neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor experiences how her left and right hemisphere take turns in being in command of her perception and actions. She shares the experience she had this day, shifting between – on the one hand – being in the here and now, feeling totally connected with the world while being unable to read, write, or talk and – on the other hand – feeling as an individual who can communicate in talking and writing, who can form concepts and who is able to plan her future. She tells a fascinating and extremely detailed story of what this feels like.