How We're Wired

Explore the changes in our brains when we become parents, including 'baby brain' and the bonding experience between fathers and babies. Discover the evolutionary reasons behind extended parental care and how parenthood changes our brains. Learn about the biological changes in the brain and body of parents, including hormonal changes and alterations in brain regions responsible for nurturing, attachment, planning, problem-solving, and empathy. Delve into the significance of both parents being involved in childcare and explore the stages of bonding with a baby.

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 special thanks Jasmine Ho.   How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 complexity of treating life-changing pain conditions like fibromyalgia, and a new system for developing novel pain relievers.   With special thanks to Rachel, Andy, and Clifford Woolf.   How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 neuroscience of ‘tasting’ words.   With special thanks CC Hart, James Wannerton, Michael Banissy, and Jamie Ward.       How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 individuals to experience feeling with a prosthesis.  With special thanks to David Ginty, Dennis Aabo Sørensen, Loretana Puglisi, and Silvestro Micera.     How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 sociability, and a look at the healing relationship between a dog and their person.  With special thanks to Beth, Emma the dog, and Clive Wynne      How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.    If you feel you need support, please contact your local crisis centre UK https://rapecrisis.org.uk/USA https://www.rainn.org/Switzerland https://www.rcne.com/contact/countries/switzerland/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 of a couple facing the challenges of making long-distance love work.    With special thanks to Serafin, Megan, and Bianca Acevedo.     How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 remember.   With special thanks to Dara Manoach and Brian Baxter.     How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 teen felt when she could finally be herself.     With special thanks to Lab, Will Mandy, and Florina Uzefovsky.    How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Macpherson.    How We’re Wired is a Fresh Air Production for The Bertarelli Foundation. Follow now so you never miss an episode.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.