With the help of a hammer-wielding scientist, Jennifer Aniston and a general anaesthetic, Professor Marcus du Sautoy goes in search of answers to one of science’s greatest mysteries: how do we know who we are?
While the thoughts that make us feel as though we know ourselves are easy to experience, they are notoriously difficult to explain. So, in order to find out where they come from, Marcus subjects himself to a series of probing experiments.
He learns at what age our self-awareness emerges and whether other species share this trait. Next, he has his mind scrambled by a cutting-edge experiment in anaesthesia. Having survived that ordeal, Marcus is given an out-of-body experience in a bid to locate his true self. And in Hollywood, he learns how celebrities are helping scientists understand the microscopic activities of our brain. Finally, he takes part in a mind-reading experiment that both helps explain and radically alters his understanding of who he is.
Broadcast on BBC Tue 20 Oct 2009. Presenter Marcus du Sautoy. Director/Producer Dan Walker. Executive Producer Andrew Cohen.
November 29, 2010 at 7:41 am | Marcus
The helmet cam was cool. I would like to try that. Great documentary.
December 8, 2010 at 8:50 am | Catherine
The presenter is really likeable. At first I also thought him very un-quirky for a professor of mathematics – then I saw his socks
Yet another very interesting and well-researched horizon documentary, this is indeed food for my brain.
December 21, 2010 at 5:13 pm | Chris
Bl**dy Great!
… And it seems I decided to write this comment six seconds before taking action and knowing that I decided to. How bizarre
January 5, 2011 at 7:41 pm | Xoe
you can see the Documentary at this site:
http://doctore0.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/bbc-horizon-the-secret-you-consciousness/
May 6, 2011 at 3:20 am | Gary V
I think that it is truly wonderful that we are living in these times of unparalleled breakthroughs in scientific knowledge & that we no longer need to rely on outdated religious myths to try to explain the wonders of life & all the things around us.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
July 28, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Fiona
Jaques Lacan and Henri Wallon came up with the theory of the mirror stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_stage. Apparently that guy Gallop designed his ‘test’ and completely omitted their preceding work on the matter.
September 25, 2011 at 4:45 pm | Guest
This is very interesting. I would wonder if it was possible for someone to know a decision by looking at the conscious of another person looking at another person looking at the guy’s conscious that is making the decision that could be predicted not 6 seconds before, but 24 seconds before. Now that would be quite scary.
September 25, 2011 at 4:45 pm | Guest
This is very interesting. I would wonder if it was possible for someone to know a decision by looking at the conscious of another person looking at another person looking at the guy’s conscious that is making the decision that could be predicted not 6 seconds before, but 24 seconds before. Now that would be quite scary.
September 25, 2011 at 4:45 pm | Guest
This is very interesting. I would wonder if it was possible for someone to know a decision by looking at the conscious of another person looking at another person looking at the guy’s conscious that is making the decision that could be predicted not 6 seconds before, but 24 seconds before. Now that would be quite scary.
January 30, 2012 at 7:22 pm | Homie1to
Billy Meier and Inelia Benz have exact descriptions of this subject matter. And they say we all have the tool kit to find these answers. It’s something all humans can do but are purposely conditioned away from using self aware skills. If you can herd sheep, you can herd people. It takes 3 things Control access to energy, ie food control access to information control violence to discipline them to direct their behavior.