The brain—one of the world's most complex and efficient machines—is the body's power center for all activities, memories, and emotions. Pointing out that different parts of the brain control different functions (the brain stem, for example, regulates breathing and blood pressure), this History Channel documentary examines new research on the brain in several areas. Viewers will visit a Navy SEAL training center, where instructors hope to better control primal fears (such as fear of drowning) and focus the mind in “fight or flight” confrontations. Reminding us that the brain is also intrinsically linked to our experience of pleasurable sensations, the documentary looks at how the brains of men and women respond differently in sexual situations (women sometimes lose consciousness during sex, men rarely). Other topics addressed include why some people repeatedly seek adrenaline rushes (willingly putting themselves in harm's way by cliff jumping or skydiving), why sociopaths lack normal human empathy (and whether this can be predicted or changed), and why superior athletes are able to maintain an intense “in the zone” concentration that helps them overcome performance anxiety, while additional segments focus on the brain's memory function and the perennial question of the mind's potential for ESP. Combining expert testimony and up to date research drawing on personal examples ranging from Tiger Woods to Ted Bundy, this informative documentary is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
The Brain
(2008) 90 min. DVD: $24.95. The History Channel (avail. from most distributors). PPR. ISBN: 1-4229-2941-8. Volume 24, Issue 3
The Brain
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