Nationally renowned neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor, who will speak at Old Dominion University on April 9, received a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: a massive stroke.

One afternoon in 1996, Taylor experienced a severe hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain, and watched as her brain functions - motion, speech, self-awareness - shut down one by one.

"I essentially became an infant in a woman's body," Taylor said, in her TED talk, which has been viewed nearly 17 million times online.

Taylor will deliver the 2015 Darden Lecture in the Big Blue Room of Old Dominion's Ted Constant Convocation Center from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 9. The event is free and open to the public, but ONLINE REGISTRATION is strongly encouraged.

"Dr. Taylor's personal experience with a massive stroke and an eight year recovery makes her insight and research into the human brain important and groundbreaking," said Dean Jane Bray, of the Darden College of Education, which is sponsoring the event. "In addition, Dr. Taylor is a dynamic speaker with an inspiring story. The Darden College of Education is delighted to host her at Old Dominion University."

It took eight years for Taylor to completely recover all of her physical function and thinking ability. The recovery, which unleashed a torrent of creative energy from the right side of Taylor's brain, allowed her to offer new, groundbreaking research insight into stroke recovery.

Taylor is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, "My Stroke of Insight: A Brian Scientist's Personal Journey," published in 2008. The book received the top "Books for a Better Life" award in the science category from the New York City chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2009.

Taylor now travels the country on behalf of the Harvard Brain Bank, delivering engaging speeches about breakthroughs in brain research.

"How many brain scientists have been able to study the brain from the inside out? I've gotten as much out of this experience of losing my left mind as I have in my entire academic career," Taylor said, in her TED Talk.

Seating is limited for the engagement. Call ODU's College of Continuing Education and Professional Development at 757-683-4686 for more information.

Sponsored by Old Dominion's Darden College of Education, the Darden Lecture series seeks to bring to campus speakers who fuse innovative scholarship with engaging educational insight and a dynamic presence.