About the author: Jill Taylor (translated by Yang Yuling) is a neuroscientist at Harvard University and a neuroanatomist at Indiana University School of Medicine. In 2008, he was selected as one of Time magazine's top 100 people.
This book has 20 chapters, which are shared below in three parts.
1. Popularization of brain knowledge
1. Introduction to the brain
The difference between the human brain and the mammalian brain mainly lies in the high and low peripheral parts. The rotating cerebral cortex is twice as numerous as that of mammals and has twice the functions.
?When you see a flower, the left brain (logical thinking) will immediately say the name of the flower, while the right brain (image thinking) will display the image of the flower.
Information transmission between the two hemispheres is carried out at high speed through the corpus callosum: as shown in the figure below.
The cortex on the surface of the brain is full of neurons, which is unique to humans. It enables humans to have the ability to think linearly - think in language and mathematics. The deep layers of the cerebral cortex are composed of cells of the limbic system. These cortical cells are the same as those of other mammals, as shown in the figure below:
The function of the limbic system is to help the senses collect information and arrange an emotional response . Because these structures are the same as those of other animals, the limbic system is also called the "reptilian brain" or "emotional brain."
The main task of the amygdala is to judge the safety of the environment based on external stimuli. When external stimuli are familiar, the amygdala remains calm. Otherwise, if the external stimulus is threatening, it will increase the brain's anxiety level and focus it on the current situation.
The function of the cingulate gyrus is to focus the brain and enter a flow state.
The human body is an information processor. Our ability to process external data begins at the level of sensory cognition.
The range of our visual field is billions of pixels - vibrating atoms and molecules. The retina detects the movement of these atoms. The vibrational frequencies correspond to different wavelengths, which are then compiled into different colors by the brain's visual cortex.
The sound we hear comes from the energy of specific frequencies and different wavelengths emitted by the collision of atoms in space. They hit our ear bones and are received by the auditory cortex of the brain to form sound.
Due to individual differences, each person’s “feeling” of the world is also different.
2. What is "stroke"
"Stroke" refers to a disease in which blood vessels carry oxygen to the brain cells and there is a problem, causing cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. It is divided into two types: ischemic type and hemorrhagic type.
The ischemic type, usually caused by blood clots in arteries that block blood flow, accounts for 83% of strokes. As shown below.
Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by blood escaping from the arteries and flowing into the brain. About 17% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes, as shown in the figure below.
2. Jill’s “lucky” stroke
On December 10, 1996, the author of this book, Jill Taylor, suffered a left cerebral hemorrhagic stroke, as shown in the picture below. Undetected arteriovenous malformation and severe cerebral hemorrhage left her completely disabled. Two and a half weeks after the stroke, a blood clot the size of a golf ball was surgically removed.
When the left side of the brain bleeds, people will become more and more silent, and Jill's memory of her life will become more and more alienated, but she is very pleased with the spreading sense of elegance. At this time, consciousness begins to spread its wings and enter a state of omniscience. As long as Jill is willing, she can "become one" with heaven and earth - the state of Nirvana.
At this time, she could no longer distinguish the boundaries of her body, where she began and where she ended. It feels like it is made of liquid rather than solid, completely blending with the surrounding space.
Jill feels lucky that, as a neuroanatomist, she has the opportunity to experience a stroke "personally".
?The red area in the picture below is the scope of the bleeding:
Note that at this time, her vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste were completely lost.
? Directly manifested as the inability to perceive three-dimensional space, that is, the inability to distinguish the boundaries between objects - a state without "I". Although the body aches, the mind is at peace - quiet, safe, sacred, and happy.
Peace only exists in a moment of thought. We only need to quiet down the domineering left-brain voice to gain peace.
Return to a complete infant state - the original Jill Taylor is dead, and accordingly, all memories are lost at the same time.
Without the left-brain judgment, she felt like she was born perfect.
After the operation, it took another 8 years to make a miraculously complete recovery with my mother by my side. Because Taylor is a brain neuroanatomist, she believes in the plasticity of the mind—the mind’s ability to repair.
The picture above is a photo of Jill and her mother after a "stereotaxic craniotomy".
The key to successful recovery is to never block your own path with negative emotions. Celebrate your recovery achievements every day and always focus on your good performance.
3. Understanding of stroke
1. Left brain and right brain
The left brain is the fragile "self" of "existence". It shows the orderly concept of time in the past, present and future. For example, when you see shoes and socks, the reaction of the left brain is to put on the socks first and then the shoes.
The left brain constantly compares us with others through critical and analytical behavior, allowing us to maintain our status, our self, and revel in our own personality in areas such as finance, academics, honors, etc. Value your own uniqueness.
What the right brain feels is the essence of life and eternal life. For the right brain, time only counts in the present moment, and every moment is filled with various emotions: pain, happiness, etc. If you want to enjoy it now, now is eternity.
The cooperation of the left brain and the right brain creates a seamless world of perception.
People should start from the peace consciousness of the right brain and use the skills of the left brain to interact with the outside world.
For those who are different from us, we should not dislike him (her), but be willing to establish connections with them (her).
Jill experienced the diversity of the world through the division of labor between the left brain and the right brain.
?Scientists conducted experiments on Tibetan meditators and Western nuns and found that when they meditate and pray, the activity of the language center of the left brain will weaken, and its orientation contact area will weaken. No longer able to receive normal sensory input, consciousness shifts from feeling itself to be changing from solid to fluid - becoming one with the universe.
2. Stroke realization
Jill believes that the stroke opened her eyes to the beauty and flexibility of the human brain, as well as the generosity and generosity of the human heart.
Einstein said, "I must first be willing to give up who I am now before I can become the me I want."
Of course, everyone can still think about it involuntarily It is painful, but as long as you realize that you are in this loop, you can be aware of it at any time and stop it, which is also a release.
Thinking about the time limit of pain, the time limit given by Jill is 90 seconds. Can you do it?
As Socrates said, "A life without reflection is not worth living." Once you understand that you don't have to think about thoughts that cause you pain, no other thought in the world will make you feel more like The power is in hand.
What is the specific method?
(1) Meditate on the present moment
Temporarily put aside everything and observe your life without distraction - feel the present moment.
(2) Feel the deliciousness of food
(3) Make good use of your sense of smell
(4) Use your eyes
(5) Listen Wansu: Feel the wonderful music and the silence.
(6) Feel the touch
(7) Trust the perception of the right brain
(8) Relax the muscles
(9) Be aware Troubles: For example, listening to a prayer reading of a Bible verse, or performing mantra singing.
We cannot completely control what happens in our lives, but we definitely have ways to choose how to perceive our experiences.
Take control of yourself: Feeling inner peace and being kind to each other is always an option for you and me.
Forgiving others, and forgiving yourself, is always an option.
Seeing this moment as the perfect moment is always an option.
Your heart can be one with the universe, or it can be an independent speck of dust. Anyone can access inner peace at any time, and this nirvana exists in every moment of our lives. This calmness is located in the neural circuitry of the right brain, which welcomes us to enter at any time.
Death is a natural process that we all must go through, we just need to understand that deep in the right brain (the depth of consciousness of the psyche) lies eternal peace.
The easiest way to bring yourself back to a peaceful and beautiful state is to be grateful. When you only have gratitude in your heart, your life will only be beautiful.
So, enlightenment is not a process of learning, but a process of not learning.
In summary, this book is divided into three parts. The first part is about popular science about the brain, including an introduction to the brain and stroke; the second part is about Jill Taylor’s “lucky” stroke; the third part is about stroke. The true realization afterward.
The URL of Jill Taylor’s TED talk:
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