Neuroscience
The puzzle of the silent mind
Have you ever had a catchy tune you just can't get out of your head? Most of us can imagine sounds – music, voices, environmental noise – to varying degrees. But about 1% of people can't imagine… Audio
Neurogenetic conditions in Aotearoa
In September 2022, two New Zealand patients became the first in the world to participate in a phase 1 clinical trial testing a new therapy for a rare neurogenetic condition called myotonic dystrophy… Audio
Our Changing World – Neurogenetics
Two New Zealand patients will be the first participants in the world to join a phase 1 clinical trial to test the safety of a new therapy for myotonic dystrophy – a rare neurogenetic condition. It's… Audio
Jude Rogers: how popular music gets woven into our lives
British music journalist Jude Rogers explores music as a portal to "new places and new feelings or places to put feelings" in her new book The Sound of Being Human. Video, Audio
Ethically influencing the world around us: Dr Zoe Chance
In her new science-based book, Influence Is Your Superpower: How to Get What You Want Without Compromising Who You Are, Dr Zoe Chance explains the new rules of persuasion and the science of… Audio
How your mindset can change your world
David Robson's new book, The Expectation Effect, sets out to help people harness the mind-body connection that can improve their lives. Robson discusses the role the brain plays in both expectations… Audio
The New Zealand genetic frontotemporal dementia study
Claire Concannon hears from Dr. Brigid Ryan of the University of Auckland about the New Zealand genetic frontotemporal dementia study and speaks to some of the family members involved in this unique… Audio
Brain stories - Parkinsons disease & perceiving masked emotions
Claire Concannon learns about experiments aimed at slowing Parkinson's Disease progression. Sonia Yee explores research into our perception of emotions in a mask-filled world. Audio
Brainscapes: the maps in our brain
If the brain's 86 billion neurons were all randomly connected, the brain would have to be more than 20 kilometres wide to fit all those connections. Luckily, they're instead organised through… Audio
It's in your eyes: pupil size a marker of intelligence
Nobody knows what's behind our eyes, but by looking into them they can now make a good guess at our intelligence. According to new research from the Georgia Institute of Technology, the diameter of… Audio
Erik Hoel: how our weird dreams could be keeping our brains fit
Nobody really knows why we dream. Erik Hoel, a research assistant professor of neuroscience at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was inspired by the techniques used to train artificial neural… Audio
Lisa Genova: The science of memory and the art of forgetting
Neuroscientist Lisa Genova explores how memories are made and retrieved in her new book Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting. Audio
Anil Seth: exploring the complexities of consciousness
How does our brain dictate the way we see the world? And how can we hack this process in the quest to design better, smarter technology? Anil Seth has devoted his career to studying questions like… Audio
Understanding the bystander effect
Why do good people do nothing in the face of discrimination, bad behaviour and abuse? In The Bystander Effect, Catherine Sanderson explains why we might be good at recognising bad behaviour but bad at… Audio
Does free will truly exist?
Dr Hannah Critchlow is a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge. Her debut book, 'The Science of Fate: Why Your Future is More Predictable Than You Think' examines how much of our life is… Audio
Sad songs say so much
Researchers at the University of Exeter analysed the lyrics of more than 15,000 songs published between 1965 and 2015 and found that popular songs are getting sadder. Dr. Charlotte Brand was one of… Audio
How gardening creates a time warp
Gardening is more than a relaxing hobby. It's good for your health, whatever age you are. Dr Harriet Gross is a psychology professor at Lincoln University in the United Kingdom. She explains why… Audio
Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin's Guide to Ageing Well
Getting old doesn't have to mean feeling old. Declines in memory, health and relevance are not inevitable says neuroscientist Daniel Levitin. Audio
Marjorie Woollacott: Neuroscientist can explain spirituality and how it relates to the brain
Marjorie Woollacott's a professor of neuroscience at Oregon University as well as a keen meditator. She has also researched what may control us outside of our physical brains. Audio
Brains are shaped by life experience, not gender
Are male and female brains really that different, or is it just a sexist myth? Neuroscience professor Gina Rippon argues that our brains are shaped by the lives we live and what we're exposed to – not… Audio