Ep 1. Deception

Your Bleeped Up Brain is a fascinating TV series that explores the mysteries of the human mind. In Season 1, Episode 1, titled Deception, we delve into the concept of deception and how our brains can be easily deceived.

The episode begins by introducing us to the newest member of the show's team - Dr. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist from Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Eagleman has spent the last 20 years investigating the inner workings of the brain and he is here to guide us through the amazing discoveries that Your Bleeped Up Brain will uncover.

We are first presented with the story of a woman named Cathy, who was in a car accident that caused significant damage to her brain. Although she appears to be fully recovered, she suffers from a rare condition called anosognosia, which means she is unaware of her own deficits. In a fascinating experiment, Dr. Eagleman tests Cathy's ability to recognize her own body by using a mirror. Despite the fact that there is a visible reflection of her left arm, Cathy is unable to recognize it as her own. The experiment raises questions about the relationship between our brains and our perception of reality.

Next, we meet one of the world's leading experts on deception, Dr. Maria Konnikova. She teaches us about the different types of lies we use, such as exaggeration and omission, and how easily our brains can be fooled by others. She shares a shocking statistic that even trained professionals, such as judges and FBI agents, can be deceived up to 60% of the time.

In a particularly engaging section of the episode, we are shown an experiment in which a group of people are asked to judge the heights of two men standing side-by-side. In reality, the taller man is standing on a lower platform than the shorter man. The majority of the judges are unable to distinguish between the two, proving just how easily our brains can be tricked.

The episode also covers the story of a woman named Della, who was convicted of murdering her husband based on flawed evidence. Through reenactments and interviews with Della and her lawyers, we learn about the power of suggestion and how this can lead to false memories. Thankfully, after 12 years in prison, Della was finally granted a new trial and was found not guilty.

Throughout Deception, we are presented with a series of experiments and scenarios that challenge our perception of reality. We learn how our brains fill in missing information and how this can lead to false memories or assumptions. We are provided with insights into how easily we can be deceived and the importance of questioning what we see and hear.

Overall, Your Bleeped Up Brain Season 1, Episode 1 is a fascinating exploration of the human brain and our capacity to deceive and be deceived. It leaves viewers with a greater understanding of the complexity of the brain, and the importance of critically analyzing information.