How math saved my life | Jason Padgett

Jason Padgett wasn’t a good student, and for the longest time he was proud of living a life a mile wide and an inch deep. But after a head injury he developed, among other things, a fascination with mathematically generated imagery and a newfound love of learning. Hear his personal theory of math, fractals and everything.

TEDArchive presents previously unpublished talks from TED conferences.
Enjoy this unedited talk by Jason Padgett.
Filmed at TED in 2015.

[furrydoggo]

The only man in the world to ever get some sense knocked into him.

[natelavigne]

This man can visualize calculus... imagine seeing a complicated function and literally seeing in your head without graphing

[johnc]

"My life was a mile wide but only a inch deep" This bro is a real one

[kikegalo]

The part that moved me was his friend who made the collar for him knowing he would not do it himself. I wish I had just one friend like that. Great to know they’re still friends

[sparkplugpeggy]

the fact his friend had his back and did an extra collage so he would graduate is freakin epic

[PartyCatDisco]

It's amazing how having a special ability can force you to take responsibility and make something great out of your life. It gives you that sense of "If not me, then who?" and you have a special sort of obligation to humanity.

[kimlau]

Obviously in this simulated world, there is a restrictor in everyone's head and he accidentally broke it.

[sreramk]

This is incredible. It has been a long time something actually blew my mind! That man became a math genius overnight! No neurologist or psychologist would have ever dared to agree that something like this is possible, before they had witnessed him.

[arielm]

After a really bad acid trip, I too saw those moving screenshot frames in my vision. I described it to people like my brain was taking screenshots and I was watching it in real time. I'm glad I'm not alone!

[cecagjacobkhaob]

I’ve seen/ met a homeless guy doing these kind or very similar illustrations every day- just by using a pen and small piece of papers.. am amazed how good he is in creating his drawings- clean, very straight lines... and now I understand how good and intelligent he is...

[rashikkar]

Just finished reading his book Struck by Genius. It's a fascinating insight into what happened to him, into the amazing complexities of the human mind, and into the mathematical nature of the universe. Thank you for this talk!

[arnoldshum]

this guys been knocked out a fraction of the matrix simulation

[jayvillar]

i just can't imagine a brain injury made this man a mathematical genius.

[Dispatern]

I experienced something maybe about 2 or 3 times when I was really tired. I fell asleep and I started dreaming and I could actually see how my brain part by part (or frame by frame) built that dream.

[mzsydni]

I love listening to him. He is the first ted talk that I could actually finish and am interested in. Bless this man!

[TheSunshine]

Here from Kendall's video! But seriously what a beautiful way to see the world

[Rayable]

WTF! I got jumped the same way and All I got was a headache for a week! And for sure I got dumber!
But maybe the trick is drinking a coke and then getting your ass kick.

[MsMedusaa]

I used to see those patterns a lot when I closed my eyes and it would save all different colours and in pixels as well. I used to draw them on my arm when I would take hallucinogens. I always thought I was terrible at math because I thought too much into it and it didn’t make sense to me but now this is making me want to learn more.

[OfficialSonOfRock]

Brings a new meaning to "knock some sense into you"

[axellthewispmaster]

It's true. We are all anime protagonists. We just need to unlock our vital instinct.

All jokes aside, I am very happy for him. He truly has surpassed everyone in math