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Episode details

Radio 4,14 Jul 2020,28 mins

SeriesSeries 22

The Human Brain

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Available for over a year

Brian Cox and Robin Ince look at the amazing capabilties of the super adaptable, ever changing human brain. They are joined by US talk show host Conan O'Brien, and neuroscientists David Eagleman and Gina Rippon to find out how the 3 lb organ that sits in our skull allows us to live on every corner of the planet, adapt to any habitat, argue with each other, and ourselves, and think about ideas such as free will. They learn whether being a successful comedian is really down to having a brain disorder and how the connections we make in our brain are changing and forming throughout our life, not just when we are young, so you really can teach an old dog, or human, new tricks. And talking of old dogs, a surprise guest makes a genuinely unexpected special appearance! Producer: Alexandra Feachem

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