This Might Hurt - Irene Tracey

Why do psychedelics, dreams, and mental illnesses feel so different from everyday awareness? We unpack the Entropic Brain Hypothesis and what it tells us about flexibility, rigidity, and the architecture of conscious experience. Consciousness may not be a stable state, but a deli ...  Show more

If memory fades or motivation disappears, what remains of the self? In this episode, Professor Masud Husain reflects on how neurological disorders illuminate the fragile yet resilient architecture of human identity Our sense of self feels indivisible - until the brain begins to f ...  Show more

Professor Irene Tracey talks about her research into pain through using brain imaging technology to see exactly how the brain is affected by pain while discussing its implications to how we understand pain in society. 

Pain, as we know, is highly personal. Some can cope with huge amounts, while others reel in agony over a seemingly minor injury. Though you might feel the stab of pain in your stubbed toe or sprained ankle, it is actually processed in the brain.That is where Irene Tracey, Nuffiel ...  Show more

Pain has long been recognised as something of an enigma by scientists and clinicians. It's both a measurable physiological process, as well as deeply personal and subjective. Claudia Hammond meets scientists attending the British Neuroscience Association's Christmas symposium on ...  Show more

How do we feel pain? What parts of the brain control our reaction to painful sensations? And how is stem cell technology revolutionising the search for better treatments for chronic pain? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she u ...  Show more