Seized: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy As A Medical, Historical, And Artistic Phenomenon

Seized is a narrative portrait of a common brain disorder that can alter personality, illuminating the mind-body problem and the limits of free will. An invaluable resource for anyone touched by epilepsy, Seized gives first-hand accounts of three ordinary patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), explaining what they suffer and how they cope. The book also tells the stories of creative luminaries diagnosed with or suspected of having TLE, including van Gogh, Dostoevsky, Lewis Carroll, Saint Paul, and Flaubert. The psychological implications of Seized are, according to Publishers Weekly, "staggering." Kirkus Reviews called the book "Fascinating . . . LaPlante's descriptions of the human brain are wonderfully concrete, her historical research is well presented, and her empathy for TLE's victims is clear." In this "fascinating account of medical research," Howard Gardner noted, "LaPlante shows how a brain scar may cause bizarre aggressive or sexual behavior--and works of profound creative imagination."

Author: Eve LaPlante

Publisher: Open Road Distribution

Publication Date: Jun 14, 2016

Number of Pages: 272 pages

Language: English

Binding: Paperback/Medical

ISBN-10: 150403290X

ISBN-13: 9781504032902