SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN FRONTIERS: PIECES OF MIND (TV)
Summary
One in this series of science documentaries hosted by Alan Alda. This episode focuses on the working of the human brain. In the first segment, Alda speaks with brain scientist Mike Gazzaniga and his research subject, Joe, who has had the two hemispheres of his brain severed in order to help control his epilepsy. Gazzaniga is studying Joe's responses to stimuli in an effort to determine the specializations within each hemisphere of the brain. In the next segment, Alda looks into the relationship between adrenaline production and long-term memory. Jim McGaw believes that as adrenaline kicks in to warn someone of danger, it triggers the production of memories, perhaps as a way to prevent the person from ending up in the same dangerous situation again. In the third segment, Harvard University researcher Dan Schacter demonstrates the malleability of human memory by performing an experiment on Alda involving a short lakeside picnic and a handful of doctored photographs. Alda observes a picnic and is later shown false photographs of the event. He is then asked a series of questions designed to determine if the photographs have altered Alda's memory of the picnic. In the following segment, Alda takes part in an experiment at Harvard University's sleep laboratory, and he looks at how the work of Bob Stickgold is helping scientists understand the way that dreams can affect a person's ability to learn applied skills. And in the final segment, Alda and University of Oregon professor Helen Neville examine the brain centers used in processing language.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Alan Alda.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: January 22, 1997
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:47
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:61970
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries; Science/Nature
- SUBJECT HEADING: Brain - Localizaiton of functions; Brain stimulation; Dreams; Epilepsy - Surgery; Memory
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1990-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Graham Chedd … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- John Angier … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- David Huntley … Producer, Director, Writer
- Jill Singer … Producer, Director, Writer
- Laura DeBonis … Associate Producer
- Sara Finkelstein … Associate Producer
- Christopher George … Associate Producer
- Marti Louw … Associate Producer
- Randy Roos … Music by
- Alan Alda … Host
- Mike Gazzaniga
- Jim McGaw
- Helen Neville
- Dan Schacter
- Bob Stickgold