Meet Your Brain: The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Professor Bruce Hood is the the Royal Institution Christmas lecturer for 2011

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are the Ri’s biggest and most public facing science events for young people. Broadcast on UK television every Christmas, they have formed part of the festive tradition for generations – often being compared to the Queen’s Christmas message and the carols at Kings, and inspiring children and parents alike.

Over the last 180 years or so, numerous themes have been explored, and Lecturers from Faraday to David Attenborough have delighted generations of audiences. The Lectures aim to bring science to life for all members of the family through fun-packed demonstrations and audience participation.

This year’s Lectures are being presented by Professor Bruce Hood, an experimental psychologist. The Lectures are entitled ‘Meet Your Brain’ and will cover a huge range of topics, from why illusions fool our brains to why we naturally mimic the emotions of others. They’re a great way for the family to get together this Christmas and watch something that’s fun and informative for children and parents alike.

The Lectures are inspired by the fact that inside each of us is the most marvellous structure in the known universe - the human brain. Our brain makes us who we are and yet the way it works has been a mystery for much of human civilization. But science has made important discoveries in recent years that begin to uncover the workings of this remarkable organ.

The first lecture will look at what's inside our heads. What do brainwaves look like? How fast is a neuron? Why does your brain create its own version of reality? Bruce will use technology to measure brain activity and follow eye movement, build a virtual brain out of audience volunteers and play some guessing games with your mind. In the process, he'll show how everything you perceive is just an interpretation of the nerve impulses that your brain receives - which isn't really that much. Ultimately, we are all experts at filling in the blanks.

Next, Bruce will ask who's in control - you or your brain? Your conscious thoughts are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the activity going on inside your head. Every minute your brain is bombarded with information - sights, sounds, smells, feelings - and you are aware of only a tiny fraction of it. How does your brain decide what to trust and what to ignore, all without you even knowing? What sneaky shortcuts does it take to speed up your mental ability? Using some surprising illusions and lots of audience participation, Bruce will make you say the wrong thing and fail to see what's right in front of you.

The final lecture examines why our brains are so obsessed with people-patterns. It's not just other humans either: your brain likes to give a personality to anything that shows a hint of character; whether it's your teddy bear, your pet fish or even your car. Yet there are elements of being human that prove virtually impossible to recreate artificially. Can a robot ever fall in love? Why do you feel pain when somebody else gets hurt? What attracts you to another person? Are your eyes a window to your soul? The Lecture will help us to discover what makes us truly human.

You can watch the Lectures at 8pm on BBC4 on the 27th, 28th and 29th December.