NOVA scienceNOW Season 5 Episode 3
NOVA scienceNOW
Season 5

Ep 3. How Does the Brain Work?

  • TV-PG
  • February 2, 2011
  • 53 min
  • 7.2  (60)

How Does the Brain Work?" is the third episode of the fifth season of NOVA scienceNOW. In this episode, host David Pogue takes viewers on a journey into the complex and mysterious workings of the human brain. Pogue investigates cutting-edge research and meets with leading scientists in the field to uncover some of the brain's most fascinating and important functions.

The episode begins with a look at the frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and self-control. Pogue meets with Dr. Robert Sapolsky, a neuroscientist who has been studying the brain for over 30 years. Sapolsky shows Pogue how the brain's frontal cortex allows us to make rational decisions by inhibiting impulsive actions.

Next, Pogue explores the sense of touch and how the brain processes sensory information. He meets with a woman who has synesthesia, a condition in which the brain mixes up sensory information so that people see colors when they hear music or taste flavors when they touch objects. Pogue also talks to Dr. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist who is studying how the brain can adapt to sensory deprivation.

The episode then turns to memory and how the brain stores and retrieves information. Pogue speaks with Dr. Brenda Milner, a pioneer in the field of memory research, who discovered that the hippocampus is essential for forming new memories. Pogue also meets with a man who is able to remember everything that has ever happened to him, a condition known as highly superior autobiographical memory.

The episode continues with a look at the brain's reward system and how it relates to addiction. Pogue talks to Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who explains how drugs like cocaine and heroin can hijack the brain's reward centers and lead to addiction. Pogue also interviews a former drug addict who describes his struggle with addiction and his recovery.

Finally, the episode explores consciousness and the age-old question of how the brain creates our subjective experience of the world. Pogue speaks with Dr. Christof Koch, a leading expert on consciousness, who believes that the brain is a complex network of interconnected neurons that generate consciousness. Pogue also interviews a Buddhist monk who discusses the role of meditation in altering consciousness.

Overall, "How Does the Brain Work?" is a fascinating exploration of one of the most complex and important organs in the human body. Through interviews with leading scientists and interactive demonstrations, the episode sheds light on the brain's many functions and leaves viewers with a newfound appreciation for the mysteries of the mind.

Description
Watch NOVA scienceNOW - How Does the Brain Work? (s5 e3) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
NOVA scienceNOW, Season 5 Episode 3, is available to watch and stream on PBS. You can also buy, rent NOVA scienceNOW on demand at Amazon, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    February 2, 2011
  • Content Rating
    TV-PG
  • Runtime
    53 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (60)