简介：NeurologistandwriterDrOliverSackshasmadethestudyofthehumanbrainhislife'swork.Hismanyacclaimedbooks(includingTheManWhoMistookHisWifeforaHatandAwakenings),arefilledwiththecompellingstoriesofhispatients."AlthoughIseemtotalkaboutillnessanddamageandproblems,myrealthemeissurvival,howpeoplemanagetotranscendoftentriumphantly,"hesays. Hislatestbook,Musicophila:TalesofMusicandtheBrain,exploresthelivesofordinarypeopledealingwithextraordinaryneurologicalconditionsandhowmusicworksintheirmindsinstrangeandsurprisingways.AlanYentobtalkstothecharminglyawkwardanddevotedphysicianaboutthemiraculouspowermusichasonthehumanbrainandtravelstomeetsomeofhisremarkablecasestudies. InupstateNewYork,AlanencounterstheinspirationalMattGiordanowhohassufferedfromsevereTourettesyndromenearlyallhislife.It'saconditionwhichmadehimviolentasachildandhascontinuedtooverpowerhimwithinvoluntarymovementsortics.KathyGiordano,Matt'smothersayshow,"hewouldcomehomefromschoolandspininacircleonthefloorforaroundtwohoursatatimeandhe’dbecrying'Mummy,Mummyhelpme,helpme',butifItriedtostophimhe'dgetangryatmebecauseheneededtocompletethetic".AmazinglyMatthasfoundawaytostophistics:byplayingthedrums.NowheleadsadrummingworkshoptohelpotherswithTourettes. Thenthere'sTonyCicoria,arespectedorthopaedicsurgeonwhowasstruckbylightningin1994andsuddenlydevelopedaninsatiablepassiontoplaythepiano.Beforetheaccidenthehadnointerestinclassicalmusicandorthepiano.Afterwardshisurgetoplaywasobsessive."ForalongtimeIthoughtcertainlythattheonlyreasonthatIwasallowedtolivewasbecauseofthemusic."AlanmeetsTonyashepreparesforthefirstpublicperformanceofhisTheLightningSonata,inspiredbytheeventswhichhavechangedhislife. DerekParaviciniisblind,autisticandneedsround-the-clockcare.HeisalsoamusicalsavantwhoseastonishingtalentleavesAlanspeechless.Hecanlistentoacomplexpieceofmusicjustonce,beforeplayingitbackfaultlesslyandhasthrilledaudiencesaroundtheworldwithhistalentandmusicalskill. TheseextraordinarypeoplebringtolifethepagesofSackslatestwork. ThisintimatefilmfollowsAlanYentobasheinvestigatestheamazingimpactmusiccanhaveonthehumanbrain.InquisitivetounderstandmoreheevenoffershimselfupasaguineapigandhasanMRIscantofindouthowhisbrainfunctionswhenlisteningtodifferenttypesofmusic,whichhassomesurprisingresults!Evenneurologist,ProfessorLawrenceParsons,whocarriedoutthetestisshockedbyAlan'sextremeneurologicalresponsetohisfavouritepieceofmusic. OliverSacks:TalesOfMusicAndTheBrain,BBCOne,3rdJune2008,10.35pm.…