The brain with David Eagleman. 4, How do I decide?.

Episode Four - How Do I Decide? This episode explores the brain’s propensity for decision making. Presenter Dr David Eagleman starts by performing an experiment that enables an audio recording to be created of a decision being made. He then conducts a street experiment, exploring the conflicts between brain networks when making decisions. Dr Matt Roser describes Alien Hand Syndrome - a rare side-effect of split-brain surgery, which is used to treat epilepsy. Eagleman describes the mental systems reason and emotion, which often come into conflict during decision making. He explores them further using the Trolley Dilemma. Eagleman visits Tammy Myers, who suffered a motorbike crash that irreparably damaged her prefrontal cortex, leaving her unable to make decisions. Neurologist Dr Paul Eslinger analyses Myers’ mental ability to prioritise information. Eagleman uses the example of a car collision to explain the physical states that are linked to gut reactions. Dr Richard Tunney exhibits his research using the Iowa Gambling Task. Eagleman then explains a study that examined ego depletion, which affects the decision making prefrontal cortex. Evolutionary Psychologist Dr Geoffrey Miller explains his research exploring whether lap dancers are more sexually attractive to men whilst they are ovulating, thus influencing their decision to give them money. Eagleman explores the role of oxytocin in influencing your decision to choose and remain with a romantic partner. Professor Read Montague explains his research into the physical genesis of an individual’s political ideology. He uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to find links between individuals’ neural response and political affiliation. Eagleman explains the role of the dopamine system on how the brain conducts decision-making. Neuropsychiatrist Dr Valerie Voon explains her research into addiction patterns in patients with Parkinson’s Disease who take dopamine-based drugs. Eagleman describes an experiment exploring how willpower works, and explains the Ulysses Contract. A recovering crack cocaine addict, Karen, recounts her experiences on the drug. Eagleman then introduces a new study he is conducting involving addicts, which attempts to map the active networks in an individual’s brain when craving a drug using an MRI experiment.