NeuroNirvana: A Brain Scientist's Experience of Consciousness
Posted by Eric W Thompson at 8/3/2008 8:59 PM and is filed under stroke,Peak Experiences,right hemisphere,contemplative neuroscience,Neuroscience,brain states,holistic science,left temporal lobe,science of consciousness,phenomenology,levels of consciousness,language processing,left hemisphere 
"Oh my gosh, I'm having a stroke! I'm having a stroke! And in the next instant, the thought flashed through my mind, this is so cool!"
These were the thoughts of brain scientist (neuroanatomist) Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor as she was suffering a stroke in her left hemisphere. Remarkably, not only did she survive the experience, she also brought back a provocative story with profound implications. In this featured TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) talk, Dr. Taylor discusses her view of the left and right brain hemispheres, as well as her first-person experience of the stroke and the surreal, nirvana-like insights she received while her left hemisphere was, for all practical purposes, "offline." In her presentation, she theorizes that, if we exercise our brain's "peace circuits" by conscious choice, we can eventually embody peace and radiate it outward into the world.
The video is about 19 minutes in length. The entire talk is intriguing, but the last 10 minutes are nothing less than amazing:
http://www.ted.com/index.p
Dr. Taylor also appeared on a recent, short webcast with Oprah, wherein she expresses her belief that the neural correlates of profound inner peace are located deep within the core of the right hemisphere. You can view that video here:
http://www.oprah.com/spiri
She has also written a provocative and highly recommended book, MY STROKE OF INSIGHT: A BRAIN SCIENTIST'S PERSONAL JOURNEY.
Questions:
Is it really possible to activate inherent "peace circuits" within the brain?
If so, how?
Can we cultivate peacefulness in a manner that actually hardwires peacefulness within the brain?
Is there really any scientific evidence for such an idea?
Is our society biased toward left-brained ways of being?
How do we, in Dr. Taylor's words, effectively "step to the right of our left brains"?
Are there specific methods for doing so?
Is there any research supporting the idea that humanity's deeper spiritual and altruistic capacities are mediated by the right brain?
What do YOU think?
These were the thoughts of brain scientist (neuroanatomist) Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor as she was suffering a stroke in her left hemisphere. Remarkably, not only did she survive the experience, she also brought back a provocative story with profound implications. In this featured TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) talk, Dr. Taylor discusses her view of the left and right brain hemispheres, as well as her first-person experience of the stroke and the surreal, nirvana-like insights she received while her left hemisphere was, for all practical purposes, "offline." In her presentation, she theorizes that, if we exercise our brain's "peace circuits" by conscious choice, we can eventually embody peace and radiate it outward into the world.
The video is about 19 minutes in length. The entire talk is intriguing, but the last 10 minutes are nothing less than amazing:
http://www.ted.com/index.p
Dr. Taylor also appeared on a recent, short webcast with Oprah, wherein she expresses her belief that the neural correlates of profound inner peace are located deep within the core of the right hemisphere. You can view that video here:
http://www.oprah.com/spiri
She has also written a provocative and highly recommended book, MY STROKE OF INSIGHT: A BRAIN SCIENTIST'S PERSONAL JOURNEY.
Questions:
Is it really possible to activate inherent "peace circuits" within the brain?
If so, how?
Can we cultivate peacefulness in a manner that actually hardwires peacefulness within the brain?
Is there really any scientific evidence for such an idea?
Is our society biased toward left-brained ways of being?
How do we, in Dr. Taylor's words, effectively "step to the right of our left brains"?
Are there specific methods for doing so?
Is there any research supporting the idea that humanity's deeper spiritual and altruistic capacities are mediated by the right brain?
What do YOU think?
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