"The Man with the Shattered World"

Paper Summary:

The paper describes the condition of a soldier, Zasetsky, who suffered brain damage as a result of a bullet. The writer explains the type of memories Zasetsky is able to recall, his moods and his understanding. The paper discusses Zasetsky's ability to write, but not understand what he has written. In conclusion, the writer shows us how Luria's book has been of value to neurologists, and also to educators of individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Luria's book sheds light on the complexity and ability of the brain to do amazing things, despite traumatic injury.

From the Paper:

"At first he could not perceive a thing then, when he could, fragments didn't form complete objects. He had to guess what assembled fragments meant. Also, the right side of his visual field was "an even gray vacuum". After brain injury, there is usually a period of recovery, but what is not recovered within the first year or so is usually lost for good, apart from very small improvements.

"His sense of his body had changed. He experienced fragmentation of his body and certain body parts would feel large or small. For example, "...my head is the size of a table". Also, he forgot where body parts were and had to 'hunt' for them. He adjusted to these body problems but other disturbances persisted. Examples of 'spatial disturbances' was not knowing which hand to extend to shake hands and getting lost when going for a walk. When he left hospital and returned home he did not recognize his hometown. Indeed, "space 'made no sense to him'" and so it lacked stability. Spatial agnosia. To the extent that he had trouble organizing movements in space, he would also have had apraxia. With Zasetsky you are really sampling the A-Z of neuropsychological disorder."

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