Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks

Quite a technical read, but well worth it if you are interested in the subjects of neurology and music. Sacks uses several case studies to illustrate how music interacts with the brain and disease for good and bad. He discusses seizure disorders (sometimes music can cause a seizure), "brainworms" or sticky tunes (that song you just can't get our of your head), amusia, dysharmonia, perfect pitch, savants, blindness, synesthesia, amnesia, aphasia, dyskinesia, phantom limbs, dystonia, Tourette's syndrome, Parkinsonian disorders, sleep disorders, depression, and dementia. I love this stuff!

I had several thoughts while reading the book:

1. Our brains are phenomenally complex and the fact that they work as well as they do is a testament to me that there is a loving God. I was fascinated by the many times a "broken" brain would adapt itself to bring about "proper" function.

2. There are measurable (and visible by MRIs etc.) changes that take place in our brains when we listen to or experience music. These changes do not show up when we use just verbal language. This fact intrigues me. Obviously, there is a power in music that we don't understand. I believe music is eternal and that it somehow has a divine spark within. When combined with the Spirit, it has great potential and power for good.

3. Most of the music referred to in this book and, indeed, used in music therapy is classical music rather than the more common ilk (not to say that both are not enjoyable). It's almost as if some forms of music are better--especially when used in the healing or therapeutic process. (Although some types of music--or rhythms--can make patients worse rather than better).

4. I was deeply touched by one woman who was described as becoming a widow "inch by inch" as she watched her husband slip gradually deeper into dementia. It made me think of Dad/Grandpa. It must be difficult for him at times to watch Mom/Grandma gradually slip away (although, FYI, he is saying things like, "When she goes," or "When she's gone, I'll do thus and such" -- I think he's mentally prepared now for her to go when the Lord decides her time has come).

5. I was really intrigued with one case study that Sacks talked about that involved a SEVERE amnesia patient and his wife (Clive and Deborah Wearing). She wrote a book about the experience called Forever Today and I have ordered it through Amazon. Mim, if you were as interested in their story as I was, I will hang on to the book for you.