Published: August 26, 2008 08:29 pm         

Former stoke victim and noted brain researcher to present program today

TERRE HAUTE — A scientist, former stroke victim and one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people will speak about the human brain at a presentation in conjunction with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Indiana State University beginning at 1:30 p.m. today in Westminster Village at 1120 E. Davis Drive. A book signing will follow the presentation.

Jill Bolte Taylor, who earned her doctorate in 1991 from ISU, went on to spend seven years teaching and performing brain research at Harvard Medical School and served on the board of directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for three years.

But that all changed in December 1996 when at age 37 Taylor experienced a rare form of stroke, an arterio-venous malformation. The stroke had a profound effect — she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life.

After the stroke and major brain surgery, Taylor has been successfully rebuilding her brain — from the inside out. She now creates and sells unique stained glass brains. Her book, “My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey,” chronicles her recovery and describes the insights she gained into the workings of her brain.

Her work has been featured in numerous newspapers, O Magazine and on ABC, CNN, the Learning Channel and NPR.

Today, Taylor continues to serve as the spokeswoman for the mentally ill for the Harvard Brain Bank and is president of the Greater Bloomington Area affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She resides in Bloomington and teaches neuroanatomy at the IU School of Medicine.

Also known as the Singin’ Scientist, she delivers a very popular keynote address, “The Beauty and Resiliency of the Human Brain.” Taylor recently was named to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Membership in OLLI is open to all adults in the Greater Wabash Valley, with programs designed to meet the needs and interests of persons age 50 and over.

Members enjoy a mix of lectures, courses and special events catering to the needs and interests of older adults. The only prerequisite for membership is a love of learning. Members extend their social network while learning among their peers.

The presentation is free. For more details on the program contact Michelle Bennett, OLLI program administrator, by e-mail at olli@indstate.edu or by calling (812) 237-2336.