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Showing Brain and Nervous System

  • 30 Dec 2006

    Epilepsy: taming seizures and dispelling myths

    Until the 18th century, epilepsy was associated with the supernatural or seen as the work of the Devil, and it continues to be surrounded by social stigma. There's still a hard core of sufferers who aren't helped by medication - despite the plethora of new drugs under development. Meet a brave young girl who turned to brain surgery after years of daily, debilitating seizures, a woman whose life has been transformed by a nerve stimulator implanted in her chest, and a geneticist who gives us hope for the future.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 9 Dec 2006

    The Chimeric Brain

    The Chimera - a creature of Ancient Greek mythology - was part lion-goat-snake. Crossing the boundaries between species is everyday in science. To test the therapeutic potential and behaviour of human stem cells, scientists implant them into animals first. But transplanting our brain cells into our closest primate relatives has raised eyebrows, and the prospect of the 'humanzee'. Could this make their brain more human-like? Might this change their moral status in the lab? Top stem cell scientist, John Gearhart, bioethicist Jason Scott Robert, and neuroscientist Peter Schofield join Natasha Mitchell to discuss the scientific and moral questions at the core of creating chimeric brains.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 21 Oct 2006

    Placenta Brain: the cognitive burden of pregnancy?

    Ever had a case of 'placenta brain', or 'pregnancy stupidity'? Can carrying a foetus make you drop your cognitive bundle? Expecting women worldwide find themselves suddenly forgetful and absent minded. So why is there so little research into the phenomenon? Are hormones to blame, or the psychological burden of approaching mumhood? Does it have an evolutionary function? Libbi Gorr and others contemplate the hungry placenta..

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 14 Oct 2006

    Reclaiming imagination: art, psychosis and the creative mind

    The imagination of an artist living with schizophrenia can feel like it's been diagnostic labels, by medication and by the often unforgiving and frightening contents of hallucinations or delusions. What then does it mean to reclaim imagination? Is madness a muse or a hurdle? Artists Simon Champ and James de Blas are joined by acclaimed pop artist Martin Sharp, to reflect on the perplexing nature of our imaginative selves.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 7 Oct 2006

    Bird brains: Smarter than the Average...

    Bird brains don't deserve the bad rap they get. Like us, songbirds are among the only animals that can learn new and complex vocal skills. Mental time travel isn't beyond them, and even mastering grammar-like patterns could be part of their cognitive repertoire! This week, three top bird brain researchers leave their aviaries and join Natasha Mitchell to discuss the unique heads of our flying feathered friends.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 30 Sep 2006

    It hurts: the elusive nature of pain

    Chronic pain. Gnawing, throbbing, aching. Like a rotten apple at the core, razor blades down the spine, barbed wire coursing through the body. Talking about it is difficult enough, but does how we think about pain actually change the nature of pain itself? Many of us still consider pain as solely biological, with major implications for the treatment we seek and receive. This week—a philosopher, a top pain psychologist and a young man who understands the intimate interplay between mind and pain better than most.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 23 Sep 2006

    The Mind-Body Problem Down Under

    Mind. Brain. Are they the same thing, or is the mind something special? The conundrum has perplexed us for centuries. Descartes' split the two - into a spiritual, soul-like mind and fleshly, material brain. But in 1956 a group of 'renegade' Oxford graduates Down Under, now international stars in philosophy, launched a challenge. Consciousness and the brain were united, and any talk of mental spooks and ghosts in the machine was out...almost. Now in their 80s, David Armstrong and Jack Smart join Natasha Mitchell and others to reminisce on taking Descartes to task. (Part of ABC Radio National's The Big 56 celebrations)

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 19 Aug 2006

    The Nature of Belief : Australian Science Festival Debate

    Why do you believe what you do? Is the human mind an organ designed for belief? Why are we so convinced of the existence of things we can't prove or see? Are some beliefs healthy and others pathological? Margaret Wertheim, author of Pythagoras' Trousers, and The Pearly Gates of Cyberspace; cognitive scientist Professor Max Coltheart, co-editor of Pathologies of Belief, and theologian, film-maker and cult-buster, Reverend Dr David Millikan, join Natasha Mitchell to unravel the perplexing power of belief. If you don't believe us - tune in!

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 5 Aug 2006

    False memories and young minds

    Your memory is your personal archive. But it can trick you too - sometimes with serious consequences. Are children more susceptible to false memories, or adults? Striking new research has important implications for how we handle children in courts and therapy, and for our understanding of this fallible human talent. Join Natasha Mitchell for the latest from the International Conference on Memory.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript

  • 22 Jul 2006

    Hearing Voices - the invisible intruders

    Around 10 per cent of the population hear voices that aren't there. Some people can live harmoniously with them, but for those whose voices are associated with a psychiatric illness, they can be frightening and menacingly real. We discuss the latest research on how auditory hallucinations occur in the brain, what it's like to live with voices in your head—and the healing power of the international Hearing Voices Network.

    This [series episode segment] has and transcript