good morning there’s a little rain man in each of us let me tell you how I’ve
in each of us let me tell you how I’ve
in each of us let me tell you how I’ve come to that conclusion a ten-year-old
come to that conclusion a ten-year-old
come to that conclusion a ten-year-old boy is hit by a baseball when he
boy is hit by a baseball when he
boy is hit by a baseball when he recovers he is a calendar calculator and
recovers he is a calendar calculator and
recovers he is a calendar calculator and now remembers the weather and every
now remembers the weather and every
now remembers the weather and every event of his life
event of his life
event of his life every day since that time a 40 year old
every day since that time a 40 year old
every day since that time a 40 year old corporate trainer dives into a swimming
corporate trainer dives into a swimming
corporate trainer dives into a swimming pool and has a concussion when he awakes
pool and has a concussion when he awakes
pool and has a concussion when he awakes he’s irresistible drawn to a piano which
he’s irresistible drawn to a piano which
he’s irresistible drawn to a piano which he’s never played before he goes to the
he’s never played before he goes to the
he’s never played before he goes to the piano and begins playing like a virtuoso
piano and begins playing like a virtuoso
piano and begins playing like a virtuoso a gentleman running a futon store in
a gentleman running a futon store in
a gentleman running a futon store in Northwest Washington state of Washington
Northwest Washington state of Washington
Northwest Washington state of Washington gets mugged and has a traumatic brain
gets mugged and has a traumatic brain
gets mugged and has a traumatic brain injury
injury
injury when he wakes up he sees these images in
when he wakes up he sees these images in
when he wakes up he sees these images in front of him very colorful and very
front of him very colorful and very
front of him very colorful and very complex he barely graduated from high
complex he barely graduated from high
complex he barely graduated from high school and hated math but a physics
school and hated math but a physics
school and hated math but a physics professor tells them those are fractals
professor tells them those are fractals
professor tells them those are fractals and he says what’s a fractal because he
and he says what’s a fractal because he
and he says what’s a fractal because he is not understanding math whatsoever an
is not understanding math whatsoever an
is not understanding math whatsoever an orthopedic surgeon in New York State is
orthopedic surgeon in New York State is
orthopedic surgeon in New York State is struck by lightning he has a near-death
struck by lightning he has a near-death
struck by lightning he has a near-death experience and wakes up and has
experience and wakes up and has
experience and wakes up and has irresistible drawn to classical music
irresistible drawn to classical music
irresistible drawn to classical music which he’s never had any interested in
which he’s never had any interested in
which he’s never had any interested in classical music before he listens for
classical music before he listens for
classical music before he listens for hours and hours and hours to the
hours and hours and hours to the
hours and hours and hours to the classical music and finally learns to
classical music and finally learns to
classical music and finally learns to play the piano and now performance
play the piano and now performance
play the piano and now performance concerts as offices as he performed
concerts as offices as he performed
concerts as offices as he performed surgery these are cases of the acquired
surgery these are cases of the acquired
surgery these are cases of the acquired savant that’s a situation in which
savant that’s a situation in which
savant that’s a situation in which ordinary people like you and me have
ordinary people like you and me have
ordinary people like you and me have some kind of a brain injury or brain
some kind of a brain injury or brain
some kind of a brain injury or brain incident at which time some new ability
incident at which time some new ability
incident at which time some new ability musical artistic or math emerges
musical artistic or math emerges
musical artistic or math emerges spontaneously
spontaneously
spontaneously and explosively there are three kinds of
and explosively there are three kinds of
and explosively there are three kinds of Saban syndrome
Saban syndrome
Saban syndrome there’s the congenital form where
there’s the congenital form where
there’s the congenital form where children have these islands of genius
children have these islands of genius
children have these islands of genius that you’ve seen many times on
that you’ve seen many times on
that you’ve seen many times on television
television
television there is the acquired savant and then
there is the acquired savant and then
there is the acquired savant and then there is the sudden sivan these are
there is the sudden sivan these are
there is the sudden sivan these are ordinary people like you and I who don’t
ordinary people like you and I who don’t
ordinary people like you and I who don’t even have a brain incident or a CNS
even have a brain incident or a CNS
even have a brain incident or a CNS incident but have a moment no Tiffany
incident but have a moment no Tiffany
incident but have a moment no Tiffany moment where they suddenly are able to
moment where they suddenly are able to
moment where they suddenly are able to be musicians artists or mathematicians I
be musicians artists or mathematicians I
be musicians artists or mathematicians I met my first salon in 1962 I started the
met my first salon in 1962 I started the
met my first salon in 1962 I started the children’s unit and winnebago Mental
children’s unit and winnebago Mental
children’s unit and winnebago Mental Health Institute there were 800 patients
Health Institute there were 800 patients
Health Institute there were 800 patients in the hospital and we took 30 of those
in the hospital and we took 30 of those
in the hospital and we took 30 of those under 18 and put them onto a unit I
under 18 and put them onto a unit I
under 18 and put them onto a unit I remember the first little guy that I
remember the first little guy that I
remember the first little guy that I interviewed there and I said Jimmy how
interviewed there and I said Jimmy how
interviewed there and I said Jimmy how come you had to come here and he said
come you had to come here and he said
come you had to come here and he said because I had a nervous breakdown I said
because I had a nervous breakdown I said
because I had a nervous breakdown I said what is the nervous breakdown well he
what is the nervous breakdown well he
what is the nervous breakdown well he said her nervous breakdown is when
said her nervous breakdown is when
said her nervous breakdown is when nobody loves you
nobody loves you
nobody loves you well we had other children on the unit
well we had other children on the unit
well we had other children on the unit almost a whole autistic and three of
almost a whole autistic and three of
almost a whole autistic and three of them caught my attention one little guy
them caught my attention one little guy
them caught my attention one little guy had memorized the bus system of the City
had memorized the bus system of the City
had memorized the bus system of the City of Milwaukee and if you told him the bus
of Milwaukee and if you told him the bus
of Milwaukee and if you told him the bus number at the time day you tell you what
number at the time day you tell you what
number at the time day you tell you what corner that bus is going by a second
corner that bus is going by a second
corner that bus is going by a second look you could take 200 piece jigsaw
look you could take 200 piece jigsaw
look you could take 200 piece jigsaw puzzle put it on the table picture side
puzzle put it on the table picture side
puzzle put it on the table picture side down and he had put it together with the
down and he had put it together with the
down and he had put it together with the rhythm of a sewing machine just from the
rhythm of a sewing machine just from the
rhythm of a sewing machine just from the geometric shapes the third little guy
geometric shapes the third little guy
geometric shapes the third little guy was an expert and what happened in this
was an expert and what happened in this
was an expert and what happened in this day in history every morning I’d come on
day in history every morning I’d come on
day in history every morning I’d come on that you need to see doctor ever do you
that you need to see doctor ever do you
that you need to see doctor ever do you know what happened on this day in
know what happened on this day in
know what happened on this day in history
history
history I try to bone up the night before and
I try to bone up the night before and
I try to bone up the night before and this was in the day of the encyclopedia
this was in the day of the encyclopedia
this was in the day of the encyclopedia not Google but I could never do him with
not Google but I could never do him with
not Google but I could never do him with his mastery yeah the little guy who made
his mastery yeah the little guy who made
his mastery yeah the little guy who made free throws he held the ball in exactly
free throws he held the ball in exactly
free throws he held the ball in exactly the same way his feet in exactly the
the same way his feet in exactly the
the same way his feet in exactly the same place and since that the fixture
same place and since that the fixture
same place and since that the fixture directory he always made the free throw
directory he always made the free throw
directory he always made the free throw so I became interested in the savant
so I became interested in the savant
so I became interested in the savant syndrome situations in which people with
syndrome situations in which people with
syndrome situations in which people with disabilities have some remarkable
disabilities have some remarkable
disabilities have some remarkable ability that stands in stark contrast to
ability that stands in stark contrast to
ability that stands in stark contrast to overall handicap I then went on to
overall handicap I then went on to
overall handicap I then went on to become director of the hospital so I
become director of the hospital so I
become director of the hospital so I didn’t have a whole lot of time to spend
didn’t have a whole lot of time to spend
didn’t have a whole lot of time to spend on swanston Roman running a mental
on swanston Roman running a mental
on swanston Roman running a mental hospital by the way is very interesting
hospital by the way is very interesting
hospital by the way is very interesting occupation one night I had to go back to
occupation one night I had to go back to
occupation one night I had to go back to the hospital after because there’s an
the hospital after because there’s an
the hospital after because there’s an emergency situation there I was in my
emergency situation there I was in my
emergency situation there I was in my street clothes and I must have been
street clothes and I must have been
street clothes and I must have been looking very anxious because one of the
looking very anxious because one of the
looking very anxious because one of the patients came up to me he said say you
patients came up to me he said say you
patients came up to me he said say you said and she knew here before her you
said and she knew here before her you
said and she knew here before her you well I said I’m dr. Trevor and I run the
well I said I’m dr. Trevor and I run the
well I said I’m dr. Trevor and I run the hospital he gave me a very knowing or
hospital he gave me a very knowing or
hospital he gave me a very knowing or sure look and he said well he said
sure look and he said well he said
sure look and he said well he said you’ll get over that I thought I was the
you’ll get over that I thought I was the
you’ll get over that I thought I was the governor when I came in there so I kept
governor when I came in there so I kept
governor when I came in there so I kept superintending and and paying some
superintending and and paying some
superintending and and paying some attention to Swanson Rome and then in
attention to Swanson Rome and then in
attention to Swanson Rome and then in June of 1980
June of 1980
June of 1980 Leslie Lemke came to funnel-like to give
Leslie Lemke came to funnel-like to give
Leslie Lemke came to funnel-like to give a concert a good ritual theater I wasn’t
a concert a good ritual theater I wasn’t
a concert a good ritual theater I wasn’t at the concert but my daughter was she
at the concert but my daughter was she
at the concert but my daughter was she came rushing home and said dad dad I
came rushing home and said dad dad I
came rushing home and said dad dad I just saw a miracle
just saw a miracle
just saw a miracle I said what you see I saw this lad he’s
I said what you see I saw this lad he’s
I said what you see I saw this lad he’s blind he’s cognitively disabled he has
blind he’s cognitively disabled he has
blind he’s cognitively disabled he has spasticity that he can’t even hold a
spasticity that he can’t even hold a
spasticity that he can’t even hold a knife and a fork but it disappears when
knife and a fork but it disappears when
knife and a fork but it disappears when he sits down on piano and he’s playing
he sits down on piano and he’s playing
he sits down on piano and he’s playing Tchaikovsky and other serious music
Tchaikovsky and other serious music
Tchaikovsky and other serious music having heard it just one time I said
having heard it just one time I said
having heard it just one time I said well honey that is a miracle but it’s
well honey that is a miracle but it’s
well honey that is a miracle but it’s also called the Svan syndrome there
also called the Svan syndrome there
also called the Svan syndrome there happened to be some people from the wire
happened to be some people from the wire
happened to be some people from the wire service in that concert and they carried
service in that concert and they carried
service in that concert and they carried the story of Wesley Lemke and his
the story of Wesley Lemke and his
the story of Wesley Lemke and his marvelous mother Mei who is you know was
marvelous mother Mei who is you know was
marvelous mother Mei who is you know was lead in the woman who will do miracle
lead in the woman who will do miracle
lead in the woman who will do miracle work course Leachman played the part of
work course Leachman played the part of
work course Leachman played the part of my lamb cape the story was picked up by
my lamb cape the story was picked up by
my lamb cape the story was picked up by Walter Cronkite and he used that as his
Walter Cronkite and he used that as his
Walter Cronkite and he used that as his Christmas story and Leslie became a bit
Christmas story and Leslie became a bit
Christmas story and Leslie became a bit of a celebrity
of a celebrity
of a celebrity we made the talk show rounds we were on
we made the talk show rounds we were on
we made the talk show rounds we were on Oprah three times and 60 minutes three
Oprah three times and 60 minutes three
Oprah three times and 60 minutes three times among all the other shows the 60
times among all the other shows the 60
times among all the other shows the 60 minutes program some of you may remember
minutes program some of you may remember
minutes program some of you may remember in 1983
in 1983
in 1983 it featured leslie alonso the sculptor
it featured leslie alonso the sculptor
it featured leslie alonso the sculptor and george the calendar calculator
and george the calendar calculator
and george the calendar calculator watching that program was Dustin Huffman
watching that program was Dustin Huffman
watching that program was Dustin Huffman Dustin Hoffman was moved to tears by
Dustin Hoffman was moved to tears by
Dustin Hoffman was moved to tears by Leslie Lemke he said I want to play this
Leslie Lemke he said I want to play this
Leslie Lemke he said I want to play this Mont and he went on to play the salon in
Mont and he went on to play the salon in
Mont and he went on to play the salon in the movie Rain Man and of course Rain
the movie Rain Man and of course Rain
the movie Rain Man and of course Rain Man is the best thing that’s ever
Man is the best thing that’s ever
Man is the best thing that’s ever happened to autism in terms of public
happened to autism in terms of public
happened to autism in terms of public awareness and public understanding I had
awareness and public understanding I had
awareness and public understanding I had the privilege of being a consultant to
the privilege of being a consultant to
the privilege of being a consultant to the movie Rain Man they wanted the movie
the movie Rain Man they wanted the movie
the movie Rain Man they wanted the movie to be sensitive and they wanted it to be
to be sensitive and they wanted it to be
to be sensitive and they wanted it to be accurate and indeed it was filled with
accurate and indeed it was filled with
accurate and indeed it was filled with those criteria as far as I’m concerned
those criteria as far as I’m concerned
those criteria as far as I’m concerned the mint my first acquired salon in 1986
the mint my first acquired salon in 1986
the mint my first acquired salon in 1986 Alonzo Clements is a sculptor he was
Alonzo Clements is a sculptor he was
Alonzo Clements is a sculptor he was injured as a child in a bathtub accident
injured as a child in a bathtub accident
injured as a child in a bathtub accident and after that he began the skull
and after that he began the skull
and after that he began the skull anything its hands on butter Crisco
anything its hands on butter Crisco
anything its hands on butter Crisco anything at home he would sculpt he’s
anything at home he would sculpt he’s
anything at home he would sculpt he’s become now an international sculptor and
become now an international sculptor and
become now an international sculptor and he complete one of those little horses
he complete one of those little horses
he complete one of those little horses that you see there he’ll complete one of
that you see there he’ll complete one of
that you see there he’ll complete one of those in 45 minutes I then came across
those in 45 minutes I then came across
those in 45 minutes I then came across my colleague Bruce Miller who’s a
my colleague Bruce Miller who’s a
my colleague Bruce Miller who’s a neurologist in San Francisco and he
neurologist in San Francisco and he
neurologist in San Francisco and he reported 12 cases of patients with
reported 12 cases of patients with
reported 12 cases of patients with dementia who is the Manship receded
dementia who is the Manship receded
dementia who is the Manship receded became musicians or artists or poets and
became musicians or artists or poets and
became musicians or artists or poets and they all had a lesion in the left hand
they all had a lesion in the left hand
they all had a lesion in the left hand here temporal lobe with a particular
here temporal lobe with a particular
here temporal lobe with a particular kind of dementia and then there’s Tommy
kind of dementia and then there’s Tommy
kind of dementia and then there’s Tommy McHugh in London Tommy is a labourer who
McHugh in London Tommy is a labourer who
McHugh in London Tommy is a labourer who had a stroke became a prolific painter
had a stroke became a prolific painter
had a stroke became a prolific painter and poet
and poet
and poet and if ever there was an unlikely person
and if ever there was an unlikely person
and if ever there was an unlikely person to become a painter or a poet it was
to become a painter or a poet it was
to become a painter or a poet it was Tommy McHugh I have about 75 such cases
Tommy McHugh I have about 75 such cases
Tommy McHugh I have about 75 such cases now from around the world of acquire
now from around the world of acquire
now from around the world of acquire spots how did he do it what happens is
spots how did he do it what happens is
spots how did he do it what happens is there is injury to the brain often in
there is injury to the brain often in
there is injury to the brain often in the left hemisphere but not always there
the left hemisphere but not always there
the left hemisphere but not always there is a recruitment of on damaged tissue in
is a recruitment of on damaged tissue in
is a recruitment of on damaged tissue in the right hemisphere most of the time
the right hemisphere most of the time
the right hemisphere most of the time there is rewiring to that and then there
there is rewiring to that and then there
there is rewiring to that and then there is the release of dormant potential and
is the release of dormant potential and
is the release of dormant potential and is that norman potential lens is the
is that norman potential lens is the
is that norman potential lens is the fluorine man within each of us whether
fluorine man within each of us whether
fluorine man within each of us whether it’s music art or other abilities it’s
it’s music art or other abilities it’s
it’s music art or other abilities it’s what I call the 3 R’s the rewiring
what I call the 3 R’s the rewiring
what I call the 3 R’s the rewiring recruitment and release which explains
recruitment and release which explains
recruitment and release which explains what happens in this situation which is
what happens in this situation which is
what happens in this situation which is a marvelous happening in some of the
a marvelous happening in some of the
a marvelous happening in some of the cases that I’ve seen I think you’d
cases that I’ve seen I think you’d
cases that I’ve seen I think you’d simply be amazed at the the challenge of
simply be amazed at the the challenge of
simply be amazed at the the challenge of course is ok if that dormant potential
course is ok if that dormant potential
course is ok if that dormant potential is there how can we cap it without
is there how can we cap it without
is there how can we cap it without having a hit a tree or a stroke and
having a hit a tree or a stroke and
having a hit a tree or a stroke and that’s where my work is taking me at the
that’s where my work is taking me at the
that’s where my work is taking me at the present time
present time
present time and there are some ways that we can
and there are some ways that we can
and there are some ways that we can access that there are five different
access that there are five different
access that there are five different ways as a matter of fact that we can
ways as a matter of fact that we can
ways as a matter of fact that we can acts I said first of all there’s
acts I said first of all there’s
acts I said first of all there’s electronic stimulation we know for
electronic stimulation we know for
electronic stimulation we know for example that we can put a part of the
example that we can put a part of the
example that we can put a part of the cortex to sleep electronically using our
cortex to sleep electronically using our
cortex to sleep electronically using our TMS as it’s called to see whether if we
TMS as it’s called to see whether if we
TMS as it’s called to see whether if we do that you know volunteer does some
do that you know volunteer does some
do that you know volunteer does some Sivan the melody emerge and in fact it
Sivan the melody emerge and in fact it
Sivan the melody emerge and in fact it does as demonstrated by dr. Elman
does as demonstrated by dr. Elman
does as demonstrated by dr. Elman Schneider in Australia he’s invented
Schneider in Australia he’s invented
Schneider in Australia he’s invented what he calls the thinking cap which you
what he calls the thinking cap which you
what he calls the thinking cap which you put on and does this kind of stimulation
put on and does this kind of stimulation
put on and does this kind of stimulation and in a temporary way at least people
and in a temporary way at least people
and in a temporary way at least people do become smarter with respect to
do become smarter with respect to
do become smarter with respect to solving problems and accounting and some
solving problems and accounting and some
solving problems and accounting and some other kinds of things
other kinds of things
other kinds of things we’re all accustomed now to heart
we’re all accustomed now to heart
we’re all accustomed now to heart pacemakers those are everyday we will
pacemakers those are everyday we will
pacemakers those are everyday we will soon have brain pacemaker
soon have brain pacemaker
soon have brain pacemaker have some meridian some treatment of
have some meridian some treatment of
have some meridian some treatment of Parkinson’s disease the treatment of
Parkinson’s disease the treatment of
Parkinson’s disease the treatment of intractable depression uses electronic
intractable depression uses electronic
intractable depression uses electronic stimulation and I think ultimately some
stimulation and I think ultimately some
stimulation and I think ultimately some of the control over epileptic seizures
of the control over epileptic seizures
of the control over epileptic seizures will be with him implanted electrodes
will be with him implanted electrodes
will be with him implanted electrodes secondly is pharmacologic ways to
secondly is pharmacologic ways to
secondly is pharmacologic ways to approached and make ourselves smarter we
approached and make ourselves smarter we
approached and make ourselves smarter we know for example that if we take an feta
know for example that if we take an feta
know for example that if we take an feta means the short-term memory improves but
means the short-term memory improves but
means the short-term memory improves but there are problems with amphetamines in
there are problems with amphetamines in
there are problems with amphetamines in terms of side-effects and addiction and
terms of side-effects and addiction and
terms of side-effects and addiction and so we have to develop better
so we have to develop better
so we have to develop better pharmacologic advances LSD as you know
pharmacologic advances LSD as you know
pharmacologic advances LSD as you know it’s like an explosion in the brain if
it’s like an explosion in the brain if
it’s like an explosion in the brain if we could use a rifle shot of LSD instead
we could use a rifle shot of LSD instead
we could use a rifle shot of LSD instead of the shotgun approach and I think you
of the shotgun approach and I think you
of the shotgun approach and I think you would be able to tap some of those brain
would be able to tap some of those brain
would be able to tap some of those brain boosters will be come on authentic there
boosters will be come on authentic there
boosters will be come on authentic there are already on television you see one
are already on television you see one
are already on television you see one phone and the jellyfish that people keep
phone and the jellyfish that people keep
phone and the jellyfish that people keep talking about I don’t know why the
talking about I don’t know why the
talking about I don’t know why the jellyfish but we will have some
jellyfish but we will have some
jellyfish but we will have some authentic brain boosters as time goes on
authentic brain boosters as time goes on
authentic brain boosters as time goes on meditation and hypnosis are ways of
meditation and hypnosis are ways of
meditation and hypnosis are ways of achieving different levels of
achieving different levels of
achieving different levels of consciousness and we’re just really
consciousness and we’re just really
consciousness and we’re just really beginning to unravel the mysteries of
beginning to unravel the mysteries of
beginning to unravel the mysteries of consciousness there are some kind of
consciousness there are some kind of
consciousness there are some kind of approaches that can be used there’s a
approaches that can be used there’s a
approaches that can be used there’s a book called new drawing on the right
book called new drawing on the right
book called new drawing on the right side of the brain and this artist takes
side of the brain and this artist takes
side of the brain and this artist takes executives and others and teaches them
executives and others and teaches them
executives and others and teaches them how to draw not because she wants to
how to draw not because she wants to
how to draw not because she wants to make them artists but because that gets
make them artists but because that gets
make them artists but because that gets them in touch more with the right
them in touch more with the right
them in touch more with the right hemisphere of creativity and seeing the
hemisphere of creativity and seeing the
hemisphere of creativity and seeing the big picture and in our executives and
big picture and in our executives and
big picture and in our executives and our politicians we want people who are
our politicians we want people who are
our politicians we want people who are able to see the big picture and finally
able to see the big picture and finally
able to see the big picture and finally there’s something I call it rummaging in
there’s something I call it rummaging in
there’s something I call it rummaging in the right hemisphere that’s less
the right hemisphere that’s less
the right hemisphere that’s less traumatic but it’s something we can all
traumatic but it’s something we can all
traumatic but it’s something we can all do many of us want to wait till retired
do many of us want to wait till retired
do many of us want to wait till retired to study anthropology or our passion
to study anthropology or our passion
to study anthropology or our passion first philosophy or making an orchard
first philosophy or making an orchard
first philosophy or making an orchard work like the one that I have I’m
work like the one that I have I’m
work like the one that I have I’m learning don’t wait until you retired go
learning don’t wait until you retired go
learning don’t wait until you retired go on your bucket list sooner with those
on your bucket list sooner with those
on your bucket list sooner with those kinds of things that otherwise may seem
kinds of things that otherwise may seem
kinds of things that otherwise may seem frivolous or when I get time I’ll be
frivolous or when I get time I’ll be
frivolous or when I get time I’ll be able to do that
able to do that
able to do that and I use this as an example my trips to
and I use this as an example my trips to
and I use this as an example my trips to Chicago usually when I go to Chicago
Chicago usually when I go to Chicago
Chicago usually when I go to Chicago take the freeway get there in a hurry
take the freeway get there in a hurry
take the freeway get there in a hurry can’t remember if I went through a scene
can’t remember if I went through a scene
can’t remember if I went through a scene or not because I sort of unconsciously
or not because I sort of unconsciously
or not because I sort of unconsciously driving how long but some other days
driving how long but some other days
driving how long but some other days I’ll say you know I’ve got a little bit
I’ll say you know I’ve got a little bit
I’ll say you know I’ve got a little bit more time today I’m gonna take Highway
more time today I’m gonna take Highway
more time today I’m gonna take Highway 41 I’m gonna go along the lakeshore most
41 I’m gonna go along the lakeshore most
41 I’m gonna go along the lakeshore most beautiful neighborhoods in those little
beautiful neighborhoods in those little
beautiful neighborhoods in those little parks and villages I’ll get to Chicago
parks and villages I’ll get to Chicago
parks and villages I’ll get to Chicago but the trip has been a hell of a lot
but the trip has been a hell of a lot
but the trip has been a hell of a lot more fun than just on the on the freeway
more fun than just on the on the freeway
more fun than just on the on the freeway and that’s what I think I’m trying to
and that’s what I think I’m trying to
and that’s what I think I’m trying to get people to do to rummage as I say in
get people to do to rummage as I say in
get people to do to rummage as I say in the in the right hemisphere
the in the right hemisphere
the in the right hemisphere so savants in Rome teaches us several
so savants in Rome teaches us several
so savants in Rome teaches us several things first of all it teaches us that
things first of all it teaches us that
things first of all it teaches us that there is this dormant potential within
there is this dormant potential within
there is this dormant potential within us all and the challenge is how to tap
us all and the challenge is how to tap
us all and the challenge is how to tap that without having a head injury it
that without having a head injury it
that without having a head injury it teaches us even more importantly about
teaches us even more importantly about
teaches us even more importantly about brain plasticity we’ve had a rather
brain plasticity we’ve had a rather
brain plasticity we’ve had a rather negative and pessimistic view about the
negative and pessimistic view about the
negative and pessimistic view about the brain’s ability to heal itself but the
brain’s ability to heal itself but the
brain’s ability to heal itself but the rewiring and the release teaches us that
rewiring and the release teaches us that
rewiring and the release teaches us that there is a great deal to be learned
there is a great deal to be learned
there is a great deal to be learned about brain plasticity which is a very
about brain plasticity which is a very
about brain plasticity which is a very positive message the let me illustrate
positive message the let me illustrate
positive message the let me illustrate that because there’s plenty of room for
that because there’s plenty of room for
that because there’s plenty of room for us to access more of our central nervous
us to access more of our central nervous
us to access more of our central nervous system what’s the man in London went to
system what’s the man in London went to
system what’s the man in London went to his doctor in the doctor because he had
his doctor in the doctor because he had
his doctor in the doctor because he had a twitch in his right length there’s a
a twitch in his right length there’s a
a twitch in his right length there’s a twitch didn’t go away so they said let’s
twitch didn’t go away so they said let’s
twitch didn’t go away so they said let’s get a CT scan and let’s see what what
get a CT scan and let’s see what what
get a CT scan and let’s see what what that looks like so they got a CT scan
that looks like so they got a CT scan
that looks like so they got a CT scan and this is what a normal brain ought to
and this is what a normal brain ought to
and this is what a normal brain ought to look like you can see the skull is full
look like you can see the skull is full
look like you can see the skull is full with cortex and lower areas of the brain
with cortex and lower areas of the brain
with cortex and lower areas of the brain this is what this gentleman’s CT scan
this is what this gentleman’s CT scan
this is what this gentleman’s CT scan showed he has using less than 10% of his
showed he has using less than 10% of his
showed he has using less than 10% of his whole cortex he is married he has a job
whole cortex he is married he has a job
whole cortex he is married he has a job and he has a normal IQ some say we use
and he has a normal IQ some say we use
and he has a normal IQ some say we use less than 10% of our brain capacity
less than 10% of our brain capacity
less than 10% of our brain capacity think that’s probably an overestimate
think that’s probably an overestimate
think that’s probably an overestimate and this puts shows us the potential of
and this puts shows us the potential of
and this puts shows us the potential of that magnificent work in the brain if
that magnificent work in the brain if
that magnificent work in the brain if anything I’ve learned by 55-year trip is
anything I’ve learned by 55-year trip is
anything I’ve learned by 55-year trip is the magnificence of the brain its
the magnificence of the brain its
the magnificence of the brain its complexity and its and its intricacy
complexity and its and its intricacy
complexity and its and its intricacy then there’s this little boy in London
then there’s this little boy in London
then there’s this little boy in London who was born with hydrocephalus and the
who was born with hydrocephalus and the
who was born with hydrocephalus and the spina bifida the parents were said told
spina bifida the parents were said told
spina bifida the parents were said told don’t expect much from him if he even
don’t expect much from him if he even
don’t expect much from him if he even lives and mom was out shopping for a
lives and mom was out shopping for a
lives and mom was out shopping for a coffin as a matter of fact and he was
coffin as a matter of fact and he was
coffin as a matter of fact and he was born and that was his CT scan now that
born and that was his CT scan now that
born and that was his CT scan now that should be like the one above with all
should be like the one above with all
should be like the one above with all that cortex he has less than 2% a brain
that cortex he has less than 2% a brain
that cortex he has less than 2% a brain tissue and yet he’s alive and to
tissue and yet he’s alive and to
tissue and yet he’s alive and to everyone’s surprise his mother worked
everyone’s surprise his mother worked
everyone’s surprise his mother worked with him so intensively he began to
with him so intensively he began to
with him so intensively he began to speak he began to learn he began to go
speak he began to learn he began to go
speak he began to learn he began to go to school and when we did the cat scan
to school and when we did the cat scan
to school and when we did the cat scan three years later this is what we saw
three years later this is what we saw
three years later this is what we saw 80% of the brain really invented itself
80% of the brain really invented itself
80% of the brain really invented itself the headline first read the boy without
the headline first read the boy without
the headline first read the boy without a brain now the headline says the boy
a brain now the headline says the boy
a brain now the headline says the boy who grew a brain so there’s so much to
who grew a brain so there’s so much to
who grew a brain so there’s so much to be learned so much territory to be
be learned so much territory to be
be learned so much territory to be explored
explored
explored and we’re just on the cusp of that I
and we’re just on the cusp of that I
and we’re just on the cusp of that I gave a lecture recently or two fourth
gave a lecture recently or two fourth
gave a lecture recently or two fourth grade students and that’s the challenge
grade students and that’s the challenge
grade students and that’s the challenge let me tell you
this is easy that was difficult they
this is easy that was difficult they asked some interesting questions they
asked some interesting questions they
asked some interesting questions they said how come there’s more voices in
said how come there’s more voices in
said how come there’s more voices in barrels salons and how come not
barrels salons and how come not
barrels salons and how come not everybody with the brain injury ends up
everybody with the brain injury ends up
everybody with the brain injury ends up a musician those kinds of penetrating
a musician those kinds of penetrating
a musician those kinds of penetrating questions and at the end of the lecture
questions and at the end of the lecture
questions and at the end of the lecture a little boy and all the girl came up to
a little boy and all the girl came up to
a little boy and all the girl came up to me and they said little boy said I want
me and they said little boy said I want
me and they said little boy said I want to be a neuroscientist and a little girl
to be a neuroscientist and a little girl
to be a neuroscientist and a little girl said me too and the payoff of those 55
said me too and the payoff of those 55
said me too and the payoff of those 55 years of work that I’ve been doing with
years of work that I’ve been doing with
years of work that I’ve been doing with these sensational people called the
these sensational people called the
these sensational people called the savants the payoff for that for me will
savants the payoff for that for me will
savants the payoff for that for me will be when that young boy and that young
be when that young boy and that young
be when that young boy and that young girl walk across the stage get their
girl walk across the stage get their
girl walk across the stage get their diplomas in neuroscience and carry on
diplomas in neuroscience and carry on
diplomas in neuroscience and carry on where I’ve left off it’s those fresh new
where I’ve left off it’s those fresh new
where I’ve left off it’s those fresh new explorers that are going to take us
explorers that are going to take us
explorers that are going to take us farther and farther into the intricacy
farther and farther into the intricacy
farther and farther into the intricacy of this marvelous
of this marvelous
of this marvelous organ the brain and when they do that
organ the brain and when they do that
organ the brain and when they do that they will take us farther than we’ve
they will take us farther than we’ve
they will take us farther than we’ve ever been in both understanding the
ever been in both understanding the
ever been in both understanding the brain and human potential thank you
brain and human potential thank you
brain and human potential thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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