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Severance’s Consulting Neurosurgeon Explains the Science behind the Show’s Brain Procedure
Mar 21, 2025
Vijay Agarwal, the Chief of the Skull-Base Tumor Center at Montefiore Einstein, lends his neurosurgical expertise to discuss the fascinating premise of separating work and personal life through a brain implant in Severance. He details how real neuroscience influences the show's narrative and delves into the techniques behind memory and emotional control. The conversation also touches on ethical dilemmas surrounding neurological interventions, as well as the community's excitement and theories surrounding the show.
17:25
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast explores the intriguing possibility of separating work and personal identities through a fictional brain implant, raising ethical questions about memory and control.
- Consulting neurosurgeon Vijay Agarwal discusses real-life advancements in brain stimulation technologies that parallel the fictional procedures depicted in Severance, grounding the narrative in actual science.
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The Premise of Severance and Neuroscience
The concept of the show Severance revolves around a fictional procedure that requires employees to have a microchip implanted in their brains, allowing them to separate their work identity from their personal life. This premise sparked interest among viewers and prompted discussions about the feasibility of such a procedure in real-life neuroscience. Consulting neurosurgeon Vijay Agarwal discussed how advancements in brain stimulation techniques, like electrodes being used for treating conditions such as Parkinson's disease, highlight that similar technologies are already in use today. The show's creators aimed to ground the science in reality, enhancing the narrative with actual medical concepts and realistic procedures to make the storyline believable.
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Discover
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