The Strangeness Of Memory

Episodes

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01Touching The Void20171009Neuroscientist Adam Zeman on how amnesia leads to a loss of self and how the lives of two men, Peter and Marcus, have been affected by their lack of a past. As Professor of Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology at the University of Exeter, Adam works with people with epilepsy who experience loss of memory. His work leads him to examine how memories are formed and ask whether autobiographical details are the only part of our sense of self that matters.

Part of Why Music? The Key to Memory at Wellcome Collection which launches on Friday with In Tune.

Programme image courtesy of Sarah Grice, Wellcome Collection.

Adam Zeman on the void of amnesia and how it impacts identity and consciousness.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

02False Memories20171010We all remember where we were as a child when a particular world event took place; depending on your age it could be the killing of J.F. Kennedy, the bombing of the twin towers in New York or the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Chris French is Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths and is interested in the nature of early childhood memories. Some memories when we interrogate them are clearly not believable and others can be implanted, so how reliable are our memories?

Programme image courtesy of Sarah Grice, Wellcome Collection.

Psycologist Chris French looks at childhood memories and asks how reliable they are.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

03The Fallibility Of Memory2017101320171011 (R3)Eyewitness accounts are crucial in court cases but how reliable are people's memories? Forensic psychologist Professor Fiona Gabbert researches the reliability, suggestibility and fallibility of memory to discover how errors are made. And while most people think their memories are their own, social influences can cause 'memory conformity' when people discuss their shared experiences together. Fiona's research leads to tips on how to cue up the brain to improve how memories are made.

Programme image courtesy of Sarah Grice, Wellcome Collection.

Forensic psychologist Fiona Gabbert explores the strength and weaknesses of human memory.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

04The Tricks Of Memory2017100520171012 (R3)Professor David Shanks is an expert in memory and learning at UCL and investigates how the brain makes memories. This has implications for exams and for how people can learn a language, in this essay David looks at how we can influence our memories and tells us about the more unusual ways to remember.

Programme image courtesy of Sarah Grice, Wellcome Collection.

How do we remember facts or details? Professor David Shanks tells us the secret techniques

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

05Memory And The Landscape2017101120171013 (R3)Claire woke up one morning to discover that overnight she had lost her memory as a result of a viral infection. Dr Catherine Loveday, a neuropsycholgist at the University of Westminster, has worked with Claire for many years and shares what life is like when you can only live in the present.

Programme image courtesy of Sarah Grice, Wellcome Collection.

Catherine Loveday explores the relationship between memory loss and landscape.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.