From the formation of language to the creation of emotion, and from the puzzle of consciousness to the existence of mental illness; understanding the brain is vital both for our understanding of ourselves and our understanding of reality. Join renowned neuroscientist and award winning author Lisa Feldman Barrett, as she examines the most recent neuroscience about brain evolution and function and what this reveals about human nature.
Part 1 - What makes the human brain so special?
Feldman Barrett explores the question that has puzzled us for centuries. What precisely does the brain reveal about human nature?
Part 2 - Language, Humans and Us
The study of the brain exposes a paradox central to political democracy. On the one hand our behaviour is dependent on a variety of external influences and yet at the same time we live in a culture that lauds individual rights and freedoms. Could language be key to resolving this?