On Demand
The Unconscious Toscanini of the Brain
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.
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
- "Fugue in G Sharp Minor, "The Well-Tempered Clavier"" The Swingle Singers - Bach Hits Back & A Cappella Amadeus - Virgin Classics
- "Dark Bayou" Charlie Barnet and His Orchestra - Drop Me Off In Harlem - GRP Records
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
Radio Lab Blog
Radio Lab’s got a blog! Check out our rants and ramblings, hear bonus audio, and get all kinds of other goodies like ringtones and videos.
More
Radio Lab Email
Tell Radio Lab What You Think
Have questions about the show? Ideas for topics for Radio Lab to investigate? Heard things you like? Don’t like? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Email us at radiolab@wnyc.org
Comments
PLS POST MP3 AND REBROADCAST RSS
Keep up the great work guys- This episode is one of my favorites- I only discovered RadioLab a few months ago thru iTunes and didnt realise that there are so many episodes here.
There are almost no other podcasts that do what you guys have managed- keep science interesting and simple- reminds me of the jazz artist who said "the rules of life (and music) are simple; but that doesnt mean that its easy"- It is tough job keeping things simple and I think you guys do that really well!
This thread is closed.
Back to Episode