Severance’s Consulting Neurosurgeon Explains the Science behind the Show’s Brain Procedure
Mar 21, 2025
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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.
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.
Deep dives
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.
Exploring Memory and Emotion through Fictional Neurosurgery
The severance procedure in the show not only aims to disconnect work-related memories but also taps into deep emotional facets linked to those memories. Agarwal explained that the targeted areas for the microchip implant, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, play crucial roles in processing emotions and storing memories, making them ideal for this fictional surgery. This aligns with real-life developments where electrical stimulation of the brain is used to manage mental health issues and movement disorders. Using the combination of factual neuroscience and creative storytelling, the show explores complex themes of identity, emotion, and mental health, resonating with the audience on multiple levels.
Real-Life Implications and Viewer Engagement
The discussion highlighted viewer interest in the ethical implications of brain procedures portrayed in Severance, including questions about control and autonomy over one's memories and emotions. Agarwal emphasized that future advancements could make such concepts a reality, drawing parallels with technologies like Elon Musk's Neuralink, which aims to enhance brain function through electrical stimulation. The show's ability to generate conversations among fans, where they discuss theories and meanings of the plot, reflects its profound impact on viewers. This engagement illustrates the successful intersection of science fiction and real-world neuroscience, prompting audiences to think critically about the implications of separating personal and professional identities.
What if you could completely separate your work and personal life—with the help of a brain implant? That’s the unsettling premise of Severance, the hit Apple TV+ show that just wrapped its second season. To make the science fiction feel as real as possible, the creators brought in an actual neurosurgeon, Vijay Agarwal, chief of the Skull-Base Tumor Center at Montefiore Einstein, as a consultant for the show. Host Rachel Feltman met with Agarwal to break down the real neuroscience behind Severance—and whether a procedure like the one it depicts could ever exist.
Mild spoilers ahead! We recommend you at least watch through episode seven of season two before you listen.
Email us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
