The Brain with Dr. David Eagleman

Before watching this show, my understanding of the brain was limited to basic textbook knowledge. But Eagleman, with his infectious enthusiasm and masterful storytelling, shattered those limitations. He opened my eyes to the astonishing capabilities of this three-pound organ, revealing how it shapes our perceptions, decisions, and ultimately, who we are.

Each episode was a revelation, filled with thought-provoking experiments, fascinating case studies, and mind-bending illusions that challenged my preconceived notions of reality. I laughed, I gasped, and I pondered, often questioning everything I thought I knew about myself and the world around me.

A very well crafted script with excellent illustrations by way of specially staged experimental demonstrations, archive material of recovered surgical patients, well chosen analogies and good graphics

I have some curiosity about questions of perception and cognition. My sense at least, I could be wrong, is that this programme brings together recent discoveries so represents the current state of knowledge. To have it so well and clearly presented is a real bonus.

Dr Eagleman is a neuro-scientist and neuro-science is one approach to the brain - others include psychology and philosophy. Between these exists to some extent and at times, with some individuals, a turf war as to which has claim to being the pre-eminent discipline to provide an explanation of the workings of the brain. There are differences too between what each discipline believes constitutes "knowledge". Neuroscience lays claim to being the "hardest" science. That there seems no hint of this with Dr Eagleman suggests that either his is a broader approach or that there is increasing convergence between these one time competitors.

It perhaps is that the brain is increasingly being discovered - as the programme makes clear - to be creative even in what were once assumed to be almost mechanical cognitive functions. That the brain could recognise something just from a few visual clues has been known for a long time and the programme pursues this further. It seems to add an entirely new chapter on how the brain deals with time - including discoveries Dr Eagleman himself has made.

This series is absolutely amazing. I don't understand how I did not bump into it sooner nor why it has no views at all? Gotta watch this!