The anatomy of rest. 2/3.

Three part series in which presenter Claudia Hammond, in association with Wellcome, explores the concept of rest.

Presenter Claudia Hammond visits the Max Planck Institute to explore how the brain functions whilst not concentrating on a specific task. Virginia Woolf’s poem “The Mark on the Wall” is recited, whilst Writer Charles Fernyhough explains mind wandering, and its association with restful states. Hammond discusses the different ways the brain expends energy with Dr Daniel Margulies. Poet Holly Pester discusses the autonomous qualities of daydreaming. She recites part of a poem exploring paracosms in relation to the Brontë sisters. Hammond discusses experiments using Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) with Dr Russ Hurlburt. Hammond undertakes a DES experiment, under Hurlburt’s instruction. A clip of David Bowie’s “Star Man” is played. Margulies talks about ways to map someone’s internal voice using a brain scanner. Hammond undergoes a brain scan, performed by Mark Laufner, as part of one of the Institute’s studies. Poet James Wilkes conducts a workshop using Hurlburt’s DES technique. Hammond and Fernyhough discuss people’s perceptions and preconceptions of the ways they think. Melissa Ellamil explains her research into the genesis of creative processes in the brain.

2016.

1 CD (30 min) ; 12 cm

Originally broadcast on 27th September 2016 on BBC Radio 4.

Disk does not play on machines by the Library Enquiry Desk but does work on other machines. See iPlayer for online version.

Produced by Geraldine Fitzgerald.

Presented by Claudia Hammond.

BBC Radio 4.