How We're Wired

What do you want to know about the brain? What mysteries of human behaviour do you want to understand? And what incredible awards has How We're Wired won in the 13th Annual Lovies? In this special episode, Dr Anna Machin shares some good news, and asks a quick favour... Send questions to: wired@freshairproduction.co.uk How We're Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow...

How do our brains get wired up in the womb? Why is it important that nerve cells find the correct partners to form connections? And how has our understanding of this vital process changed over the last 40 years? In this special episode, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin and producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as they uncover how our brains get wired up with Brain Prize 2023 winner Professor...

How We're Wired season 1's final episode will be with you next week, but in the meantime, why not check out our sister podcast Ocean Matters? Our ocean is the earth's defining feature. But the blue of our blue planet is so much more than just a colour. It is rich with life and plays an important role in keeping our planet stable and healthy. Worryingly, we are seeing our ocean change, for the wors...

What does it mean to be in a coma? How can we tell if someone on life support is actually conscious? And how can scientists use synchronised heart rhythms to predict which comatose patients are likely to wake up? In this focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she explores the neuroscience of coma –  from the challenges in knowing for certain that someone  isn't cons...

What happens in our brains when we die? Where does consciousness come from? And what can out of body experiences teach us about how we create our own realities? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience of death and consciousness, from brain activity  during near-death experiences, to the complexities of how we embody oursel...

Why are some of us more susceptible to dementia? What is a 'Super Ager'? And what might help us protect our brains in later life?  In this focus episode of How We’re Wired join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she dives into the science of Super Agers, from the genes that increase your risk of Alzheimer's to the structural brain changes seen in those who have aged well, and  meeting a 92-year-old w...

How do our brains change as we get older? Why are we more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or experience a stroke late in life? And what can you do to help protect your neural health? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience behind the mature brain, from the neural changes that makes most of us more forgetful, to strides in re...

How do we recognise faces? What part of the brain helps us discern a stranger from a friend? And could you be a Super Recogniser?   In this focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she explores the science of facial recognition, from face blindness to the brains of those who are exceptional at recalling faces, and the tests you can do to discover if you have the skill...

How do we see? What parts of the brain are responsible for vision? And how can gene therapy restore sight to people living with a visual impairment?   In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience behind our sense of sight, from the complex computations of the retina to how gene therapy is revolutionising treatment for blindness...

How does stress affect decision-making? What does burnout do to the brain? And how can parents find ways to cope with emotional exhaustion and fatigue?   In this focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she explores the neuroscience of burnout, from how brain cells lose connections during chronic stress, to why we evolved fight, flight or freeze. With special thanks S...

How do our brains change when we become parents? What does having ‘baby brain’ really mean? And how can fathers use the science of bonding to feel close to their babies?  In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience of parenthood – from the evolution of how human parenting to why testosterone levels permanently drop in new fath...

How could virtual reality cure chronic pain? What’s happening the brain when we embody an avatar? And what complex conditions might benefit from experiencing bodily illusions?   In this focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she explores the science of virtual reality and how it could change the lives of people suffering from complex chronic pain conditions.   With...

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 unpicks the neuroscience of pain – from how early pain experiences can make us at risk for future problems, to the com...

How can some people taste sounds? What’s happening in the brain of those who feel other’s sensations as their own? And why might we have evolved some of these extraordinary abilities in the first place?   In this focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she explores the science of synaesthesia – from a massage therapist who can ‘feel’ other people’s pain, to the neuro...

How do we feel with our fingertips? What parts of the brain integrate the complexities of touch? And how are scientists creating prosthetics that give feeling back to amputees?  In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience behind our sense of touch; from the complex web of nerve endings that cover our skin to meeting the first...

How do you know if your dog really loves you? What’s happening in a dog’s brain when they’re with their favourite human? And how can close human-dog bonds help people, and dogs, heal from trauma?   In this episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she uncovers the history of the dog-human relationship; from scientific proof that our dogs love us to the genetics of dog sociab...

What is love? What's happening in our brains when we're falling for someone? And why are we wired for forming deep, meaningful connections?  In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist and love expert Dr Anna Machin as she unpicks the neuroscience of love, from the genetic unpinning of our strongest relationships to the neurochemicals that bond us together. Plus, the story...

What’s happening in our brains when we sleep? Why are autistic people more likely to struggle with sleep? And how might new sleep technology help improve memory?  In this episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she looks at how autism affects sleep, and why devices that record brain activity could help autistic people get better rest, and everyone improve their ability to...

What is autism? Why are autistic women and girls less likely to receive a diagnosis? And what does the science really say about the underlying causes of autism?   In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she explores autism, from the striking prevalence of eating disorders in autistic women and girls to the mental load of masking, and the relief one te...

What’s going through the mind of an Olympic rower at the starting line? Is an athlete’s brain all that different from a non-athlete? And what lessons can we all learn from a sports mind coach?  In this episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she looks at the neuroscience and psychology of elite sport.   With special thanks to Frances Houghton, Mark Williams, and Don Macphe...

How do we move? What parts of the brain control how we use our muscles? And what implanted technology is allowing people with spinal cord injuries to walk again? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she picks apart the neuroscience of movement, from how the brain orchestrates complex tasks like playing an instrument, to a visit with the first perso...

How common are mental health conditions in teenagers? How can depression look different in a child compared to an adult? And how are scientists using brain imaging studies to better understand conditions like schizophrenia?   In this episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she looks at mental health in children and young adults, from important risk factors to mechanisms of...

What’s going on in the brains of teenagers? How does puberty affect the brain? And why might changing the way we talk about teens lead to changes in their brain structure?    In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin as she picks apart the neuroscience of puberty and adolescence, from the brain regions responsible for bodily changes to the importance of te...

How do we taste? What evolutionary benefit is there to tasting bitter and sour? And why should you think about wearing noise-cancelling headphones on planes if you want to enjoy your food?      In this Focus episode of How We’re Wired, join producer Dr Eva Higginbotham as she uncovers the neuroscience underpinning taste, from how you can optimise dishes using synergistic umami to a test to discove...

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 th...