In this altered state, there are those who suffer from complex seizures, bite their tongues, lose consciousness, and become incontinent. Some patients say that the music seems to be an essential part of the attack, as it becomes intense, overwhelming, and exerts enormous power over them. The author presents clinical histories in which a musical stimulus is capable of triggering an epileptic seizure. He demonstrates how music can lead to complex disorders and can be both frightening and harmful. Oliver Sacks focuses on Musicogenic Attacks. ‘Musicophilia’ is composed of four major sections, which we present below: Part I: ‘Haunted by Music’ On the other, the beneficial and healing role that music plays in life is explored. On the one hand, the pathogenic effects of sound are studied.

Throughout the book there are two main streams. It is fair to say that ‘Musicophilia’ reveals an insatiable eagerness to understand what happens in the brain when music is listened to, performed, or felt. Sacks’ neuroscientific research brings together illustrative cases, clinical trials, accredited studies, autobiographical experiences, letters and testimonials. The tales are so curious and intriguing that it is difficult to choose between them. The author tells, for example, the story of a man whose musical talent emerges after he is struck by lightning, the experience of a Sicilian woman who experienced epileptic seizures when listening to Neapolitan songs, the testimony of a musical savant who knows more than two thousand operas by heart, and the day-to-day life of a severe amnesiac who remains anchored to life through music.

Torquay sees colors when he hears music.ĭr.The book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain brings together a series of neurological histories of those who, after suffering an injury or pathology, exhibit a marked deficit or an exponential increase in their musicality.īritish neurologist Oliver Sacks describes in a scientific and humanistic way the effect of sounds and music on the mind. Some string players manage to play to the end of a piece despite a string breaking in mid performance. some performers learn to play their instruments despite losing a finger or hand. Some professional popular and classical percussionists can't carry a tune at all. Of special interest to me were discussions about a great many of the world's great composers and musicians with unique abilities or problems caused by injuries, genetic abnormalities, disease, lightning strike, et cetera. This book is a comprehensive treatment and summary of all sources the author could find plus his own observations and those of many of the world's past and current experts and researchers on humans and their connection to music and rhythm. These are short and easily readable case histories on neurological and physical problems and differences relating to musical abilities in a great many patients treated by Dr.

Oliver sacks book musicophilia