Oliver Sacks Quotes

A collection of quotes by Oliver Sacks.

Oliver Sacks (1933-2015) was a renowned British-American neurologist, writer, and professor. Born in London, England, Sacks developed an early fascination with science and literature. He attended the University of Oxford, where he earned his medical degree in 1960.

Sacks moved to the United States in the 1960s and began working as a consulting neurologist, specializing in clinical neurology and psychiatry. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions in the field of neurology, particularly in the study of unusual neurological disorders. Sacks was particularly interested in the human brain's ability to adapt and its potential for healing.

His groundbreaking work reached a wide audience through his captivating and empathetic writing style. Sacks authored numerous books, including the bestselling "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat," which explored the intricate and often perplexing world of neurological disorders. His ability to translate complex medical concepts into accessible language made him a beloved figure, appreciated by both medical professionals and the general public.

In addition to his writing, Sacks was a passionate advocate for his patients and championed the humane treatment of individuals with neurological conditions. He believed in embracing the individuality of each patient, recognizing the profound impact such conditions had on their lives. Oliver Sacks' work has left a lasting legacy, not only in the field of neurology but also in the hearts of those he touched with his compassion and storytelling.

Given her deafness, the auditory part of the brain, deprived

Given her deafness, the auditory part of the brain, deprived of its usual input, had started to generate a spontaneous activity of its own, and this took the form of musical hallucinations, mostly musical memories from her earlier life. The brain needed to stay incessantly active, and if it was not getting its usual stimulation..., it would create its own stimulation in the form of hallucinations.

Oliver Sacks

Music Science Psychology Neuroscience Cognitive Neuroscience Hallucinations Musical Hallucinations

Some people with Tourette's have flinging tics- sudden, seem

Some people with Tourette's have flinging tics- sudden, seemingly motiveless urges or compulsions to throw objects..... (I see somewhat similar flinging behaviors- though not tics- in my two year old godson, now in a stage of primal antinomianism and anarchy)

Oliver Sacks

Science Biology Neurology Tourette S

But the saddest difference between them was that Zazetsky, a

But the saddest difference between them was that Zazetsky, as Luria said, 'fought to regain his lost faculties with the indomitable tenacity of the damned,' whereas Dr P. was not fighting, did not know what was lost. But who was more tragic, or who was more damned -- the man who knew it, or the man who did not?

Oliver Sacks

Science Inspirational

There are, of course, inherent tendencies to repetition in m

There are, of course, inherent tendencies to repetition in music itself. Our poetry, our ballads, our songs are full of repetition; nursery rhymes and the little chants and songs we use to teach young children have choruses and refrains. We are attracted to repetition, even as adults; we want the stimulus and the reward again and again, and in music we get it. Perhaps, therefore, we should not be surprised, should not complain if the balance sometimes shifts too far and our musical sensitivity becomes a vulnerability.

Oliver Sacks

Music Science Psychology Theories Songs Neuroscience Earworms Hypotheses Hypothesis