wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

On Demand

The Unconscious Toscanini of the Brain

Friday, February 18, 2005

How does the brain produce a thought? Or experience a unitary, whole, synchronized perception of a cup of coffee? For neuroscientists, this is the Mount Everest of questions. We have a look at one possible theory (that a thought is like lots of little neurons singing together in harmony) and then visit neurologist Christof Koch to ask: who conducts the brain chorus? Koch thinks he knows, and he tells us of the cutting edge work of one of science’' great thinkers, Francis Crick...an inquiry which lasted until his dying day.

» Learn more about Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
» Christof Koch's book The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach
» Francis Crick’s book Astonishing Hypothesis: The Scientific Search for the Soul


Leave a Comment

Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. WNYC reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the WNYC.org Comment Guidelines before posting.

Your comment


* required
The information entered into this form will not be used to send unsolicited email and will not be sold to a third party.
 
Back to Episode