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natmackow's picture

I’m reading this book for the

I’m reading this book for the book review! I can’t put it down; I’m completely hooked.

In the operating room, his tics increased, he darted, reached, lunged, moved to touch someone’s unsterile shoulder, but never quite did. As soon as he began the surgery, he was focused, smooth, unhindered by tics. He lost the identity of a Tourettic, and took on the persona of a confident, brilliant surgeon.

Perhaps his ability to almost ignore or forget about his need to tic while performing surgery has something to do with CPGs and the I-function? Perhaps this is related to a pianist focusing and letting their brain and fingers play the song, and not actually thinking about their actions, lest they lose their rhythm? Because Sacks mentions that when Bennett was distracted multiple times during surgery with outside demands, his concentration would break, he would remember that he was Tourettic, and his smooth rhythm would be lost (which was why he wasn't allowed to be distracted).
 

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