There is certainly a universal and unconscious propensity to impose a rhythm even when one hears a series of identical sounds at constant intervals... We tend to hear the sound of a digital clock, for example, as "tick-tock, tick-tock" - even though it is actually "tick tick, tick tick.

At 11, I could say ‘I am sodium’ (Element 11), and now at 79, I am gold.

Fascinating, Doidge's book is a remarkable and hopeful portrait of the endless adaptability of the human brain.

There is among doctors, in acute hospitals at least, a presumption of stupidity in their patients.

I think there are dozens or hundreds of different forms of creativity. Pondering science and math problems for years is different from improvising jazz. Something which seems to me remarkable is how unconscious the creative process is. You encounter a problem, but can't solve it.

In terms of brain development, musical performance is every bit as important educationally as reading or writing.

I feel I should be trying to complete my life, whatever completing a life means.