How do we smell? What role does our sense of smell play in our closest relationships? And how are brands creating scents to keep us coming back for more? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the science of smell, from how your sense of smell changes over your lifetime to a visit to a perfumer creating olfactory memories. With special thanks to Duncan Boak, Carl Philpott, and Dawn Goldworm.  How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air...

Why does our memory sometimes fail us? Would you recognise an implanted memory? And what implications do the risks of false memories have for society?  In this Focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she explores the murky depths of our imperfect memories; from whether a brain scan can identify whether a memory is true or false to the potential for memory-numbing drugs as a treatment for PTSD.   With special thanks to Daniel Schacter.    How We’re Wired is a...

What is a memory made of? Which parts of the brain help us remember? And what can taxi drivers’ brains tell us about how memories are made?  In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she dives into the science of memory, and how we remember. We’ll unpick the structures of the brain that are involved in making memories, and attend an MRI scan of a London cabbie to understand what makes London drivers’ brains so fascinating to neuroscientists....

What’s it like to lose your hearing? Why is the cause of hearing loss often so hard to diagnose? And what innovative technologies might help scientists develop new therapies?   In this Focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she uncovers the complexities of hearing loss – from tinnitus to the mysteries of the inner ear – and speaks to a dancer who is having to learn to live with reduced hearing.   With special thanks to our guests Helen and Tina Stankovic....

How do we hear? What parts of our brain respond to sound? And how can we use vibrations to expand the way we enjoy music?   In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin on a sensory journey exploring the world of sound, and how we hear it. We’ll meet a dancer who remembers being able to hear clearly for the very first time, learn how our brains break down complex sound in a noisy environment, and experience a device which expands the pleasure we get...

How do we learn to talk? When do babies first understand language? And how do scientists study language learning in the lab?   In this Focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she visits the Oxford Brookes Babylab to understand how babies make sense of what we say, including watching real-life language experiments with infants and trying to interview a 9-month-old.   With special thanks to Alice, her son, and Nayeli Gonzalez-Gomez.  How We’re Wired is a Fresh...

What is the brain made of? How is it built in the womb? And what impact does preterm labour have on brain development?    In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she explores the beginnings of the human brain. We’ll visit an ultrasound clinic to observe foetal brain structures and hear how the earliest brain cells develop in the womb, plus visit a biotechnology lab in Switzerland working hard to protect immature brains.   With special thanks to...

Love. Touch. Speech. Movement. Consciousness. What do they all have in common? From before birth to after death, our brains underpin our experiences and feelings. They make us who we are. But how? In How We’re Wired, evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin goes behind the scenes of cutting-edge of neuroscience research to uncover the fascinating stories of how our brains grow, change, and ultimately die. Together, we’ll meet the scientists exploding our understanding of how the brain...