My World: A Different Kind of Stroke

Every year, 15 million people will suffer from a stroke, five million of them will die and a further five million will be left permanently disabled.

Dr Jill Bolte Taylor, is a brain scientist who suffered a massive stroke at the age of 37.

Knowing how the brain operates, she was able to observe and understand the deterioration that followed.

Her right-side became paralysed and she could not comprehend language.

She could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life.

She had to be brought up again, just like a child by her mother.

Understanding anything required an enormous amount of willingness and attention.

It took eight years for her to heal completely but she believes the stroke was the best thing to happen to her.

From a young age, she was always fascinated with how the brain functioned, and having a brother who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, made it even more interesting.

She always wondered why she could make her dreams come true, yet her brother always remained in a delusional state, this led her to question what was normal.

He helped shape who she grew up to be, a Harvard-trained and published neuro-anatomist.

Having a stroke also made her more understanding and compassionate for her brother's condition.

In My World, she invites you on her journey, where her unique combination of scientific knowledge and personal experience has gained potentially revolutionary insights into the nature of consciousness.

First broadcast Friday 29th June 2009