Oliver Sacks’ short assignment

Reflection on Oliver Sacks’ Book “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”

Reading Oliver Sacks’ The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat left a lasting impression on me. Sacks, a neurologist and storyteller, presents case studies of patients with unique neurological disorders, transforming clinical cases into deep reflections on human cognition, identity, and perception.

  1. Humanizing Clinical Conditions: What struck me most was Sacks’ ability to humanize each of his patients. While describing disorders that could easily be reduced to clinical terminology, Sacks avoids this by capturing his patients’ personalities and lived experiences. For instance, Dr. P, the titular character of the book, cannot visually recognize objects or people, yet Sacks paints a picture of a deeply musical and intellectual man whose life is rich despite his cognitive limitations. Sacks’ empathetic approach made me think about the importance of seeing people beyond their conditions, of recognizing humanity in every patient.
  2. The Complexity of Perception: Another element that left a deep impression was Sacks’ exploration of how the brain shapes reality. The cases he discusses, from patients who can’t recognize faces (prosopagnosia) to those who lose the ability to form new memories, illustrate how our neurological functions construct our sense of self and the world. His discussions on how perception isn’t just seeing, but interpreting, and how the brain fills in gaps in knowledge made me reflect on the delicate balance between cognitive processing and subjective reality.
  3. Philosophical Reflections on Identity: Finally, the book subtly weaves philosophical questions about identity. In particular, the case of Jimmie G., a man stuck in the 1940s due to an inability to form new memories, highlights how memory is central to our sense of continuity and identity. Without it, we are left in a disjointed existence where the past, present, and future blur. Sacks’ observations on Jimmie made me think about the role memory plays in not only our practical lives but also in how we understand ourselves over time.

Sacks’ work, blending clinical observation with philosophical and emotional insight, leaves readers not only more informed about neurological conditions but deeply moved by the complexity of the human experience.

Dr. Carl Lejeuz reflection

Dr. Carl Lejuez’s show on “Anxiety and it’s Curious and Complex Connection with Creativity” investigates the relationship connection between two opposing forces. Anxiety, frequently saw as a pessimistic state portrayed by sensations of pressure and disquiet, can paradoxically fuel inventiveness by pushing people past their usual ranges of familiarity. Dr. Lejuez likely emphasized how anxiety can act as a propelling variable, driving people to investigate new arrangements, thoughts, and types of articulation as a method for adapting to or channeling their restless energy.

In any case, there is likewise a fragile harmony between the useful energy that nervousness can produce and the staggering idea of anxiety when it becomes unmanageable. Dr. Lejuez could have examined how people can explore this equilibrium, utilizing nervousness helpfully as opposed to allowing it to block their innovative flow.

A key takeaway could be the possibility that embracing discomfort, instead of keeping away from it, can open ways to more prominent inventive results. creativity, in this unique circumstance, turns into a method for overseeing and changing tension into something deliberate and satisfying. Dr. Lejuez’s point of view might challenge the ordinary perspective on nervousness as simply negative, offering a more nuanced comprehension of its mind-boggling job in human ideas and articulation.

Dr. Lauren Richmond reflection

Dr. Lauren Richmond’s presentation “Memory and Aging” illuminated interesting associations between cognitive functions and the aging process. One of the most interesting aspects for me was her investigation of the mind’s wonderful flexibility, even as we age. As opposed to the normal conviction that cognitive decline is inevitable, she featured how designated methodologies and mediations, like mental offloading — utilizing outside apparatuses like updates — can support memory in more seasoned grown-ups.

I was particularly inspired by the confident message installed in her exploration: maturing doesn’t be guaranteed to liken to mental misfortune. By cultivating a climate supporting mental commitment, we can slow or try to forestall a portion of the decays related to maturing. This thought reexamines maturing as a more dynamic cycle, one that we can impact through our propensities and way of life decisions.

One of my vital points from the show was how functional the methodologies were. Basic advances like utilizing updates, laying out clear objectives, or keeping up with social associations can help mental capability. These bits of knowledge not only illuminate how we care for maturing populaces but additionally underscore how we contemplate maturing requirements to move toward an enabling and proactive story.

poetry and the brain (pecha kucha summary)

Using neuroimaging and behavioral responses, we show that recited poetry can be a powerful stimulus for eliciting peak emotional reactions, including chills and objectively measurable goosebumps that engage the primary reward circuitry—a heat map of chills for one experimenter-selected poem with four stanzas. The coloring of the squares corresponds to the number of chills a word elicited across all participants in the first study.  MRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a brain imaging technique that measures and maps brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. It relies on the fact that when a brain region is more active, it requires more oxygen, leading to increased blood flow, which the fMRI detects. This allows researchers to observe which brain areas are involved in specific cognitive or emotional tasks. Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Brain—is wider than the Sky—” explores the vastness and power of the human mind. Through metaphors, Dickinson compares the brain to the sky, the sea, and even to God, emphasizing its ability to contain and comprehend the infinite. The poem suggests that the brain, though physically small, has a limitless capacity for thought, imagination, and understanding, making it more expansive than even the natural world. It’s a meditation on the mind’s extraordinary potential. To activating emotional centers in the brain, reading poetry also engages the regions involved in processing language. While the emotional impact of poetry can be powerful and immediate, the cognitive processing involved in understanding and appreciating poetic language is also important. For example, a poem that describes a sunset in vivid detail can elicit feelings of awe, beauty, and tranquility. the limbic system in poetry evokes strong emotional responses. Language processes in two parts of the brain: Broca’s area: responsible for speech production and rhythm. Wernicke’s area: involved in understanding complex language and richer word processing; poetry engages areas dealing with metaphor and symbolism. The brain uses memory and recalls repetitive structures: rhyme and meter improve memory retention. Activation of memory networks: poetry aids in storing and recalling information. cognitive flexibility: decoding metaphors enhances mental agility. prefrontal cortex activation: higher-order thinking engaged by interpreting poetry. analytical vs. creative thinking: the brain balances logic and imagination. theory of mind (ToM) understanding other’s emotions and perspectives through poetic narratives. Dopamine release: a well-crafted line triggers pleasure circuits. eureka effect; insightful moments of understanding stimulate reward pathways. default mode network (DMN): activated during poetry reading, promoting self-reflection.Rhymtic effects: poetic meter calms the mind, similar to meditation. mindfulness and relaxation: poetry can reduce stress and enhance relaxation. stress- relief: reading or listening to poetry can activate circuits that reduce stress therapeutic value: used in therapy for emotional release and calming the nervous system.