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Personal connection to Brain and Behavior from the previous years:  After the 2003 summer institute, my oldest brother, Tony had a stroke.  He experienced spasms, in his right arm, although he was ‘paralyzed’.  I let him know some of what I had learned during the summer institute, that paralysis is the loss of control of voluntary movement, I encourage him to go to physical therapy to learn new ways to be able to control his arm.  He indeed, after some convincing went to physical therapy and regained much of the usage of his arm.

During the spring of 2004, my Mother had a series of strokes shortly before she passed away.  I asked the nurses if she was able to hear what we were saying to her, she responded “no”.  I remembered from Brain and Behavior that she indeed may be able to hear me, but was unable to control any of her movements, to “verify” that she was able to hear.  I asked the nursing staff to only play the Bible on c.d. and or gospel music on c.d.  I wanted to ensure that anything she heard was going to be things that she enjoyed, even if she was not able to respond.