Oliver Sacks - Musicophilia - Amnesia and Music

Oliver Sacks, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars, discusses the story of Clive Wearing, an eminent English musician and musicologist. After contracting a form of encephalitis, Clive was stricken with an acute case of amnesia. His musical ability, however, remained undiminished. The story related in the video comes from Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Dr. Sacks's latest book. For more information, visit http://www.oliversacks.com or http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400033539

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Entertainment

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• oliver
• sacks
• music
• clive
• wearing
• musicophilia
• neurology
• neurologist
• brain
• amnesia
• science

[arcticfox1]

An amazing man with a great gift for explaining complex ideas in simple language. A lot of his work reminds me of a quotation I read once - ASK NOT WHAT DISEASE A PERSON HAS, BUT WHAT PERSON THE DISEASE HAS.

[stundenstern]

Great to see him now. I'ver heard of him abot 10 years ago and it gave me new hope to experience that there are scientifics like him: lively and full of love for the human being.

[jennyrgar]

@ytcarol there is an argument on internet demanding that love isnt real because relationships are forgotten when the mind is lost. so it is said, love is in the mind. what do you think from observing patients? cant the quality of empathy still survive?

[jennyrgar]

i need to know if the brain parts destroyed held information needed to carry out the talent. music is expression of self. hmmm.

[Cerebromatic]

I own this book and can't tell you how many times I've read it over. The part about synesthesia and individual notes especially applies to me. Kudos to Dr. Sacks for exploring a subject some would dismiss

[vivascargill]

@arcticfox1 attributed to Osler Sacks quotes it

[kevingp12]

wow i can just imagine playing my guitar in front of an audience and suddenly i look at them and i would say to my self

"who are these people?" i would just totally ruin the performance, it has to be confusing and chaotic!!

[oboest]

@PALKIA99 Please send him much respect from Music Therapist in Los Angeles!

[Score2400]

He is such a great writer, his writings are extremely emotional =]

[ytcarol]

articfox1 - Excellent comment!!! I work at a retirement community and observe folks with dementia - this perspective is essential in not losing sight of the valuable individual behind the fading brain.