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Emotions

Episode 2 of 3

Dr Michael Mosley investigates how scientists have struggled to understand that most irrational and deeply complex part of our minds - emotions.

Dr Michael Mosley continues his exploration of the brutal history of experimental psychology. Experiments on the human mind have led to profound insights into how our brain works - but have also involved great cruelty and posed some terrible ethical dilemmas.

In this film, Michael investigates how scientists have struggled to understand that most irrational and deeply complex part of our minds - our emotions.

Michael meets survivors - both participants and scientists - of some of the key historical experiments. Many of these extraordinary research projects were captured on film - an eight-month-old boy is taught to fear random objects, baby monkeys are given mothers made from wire and cloth, and an adult is deliberately violent before a group of toddlers.

Michael takes part in modern-day experiments to play his own small part in the quest to understand emotions.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 8 Mar 2018 20:00
BBC Four

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Mind Control

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Broken Brains

See all episodes from The Brain: A Secret History

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Murcof

    Mo, a.mo.re aeroc mix

  • Murcof

    Razon, en 3 partes

  • Florence + the Machine

    Blinding, instrumental version

  • Orbital

    Out There Somewhere

  • Moby

    God Moving Over the Face of the Waters

  • Murcof

    Camino

  • Murcof

    Ulysses

  • UNKLE

    Hold My Hands, Inversions Orchestra Instrumental Mix

  • Marconi Union

    Inter

  • The Temper Trap

    Sweet Disposition

  • Spooky

    Falx

  • Murcof

    Ultimatum

  • Pantha du Prince

    Saturn Strobe

  • Murcof

    Mes

  • Murcof

    Marmol

  • Pantha du Prince

    Steiner Im Flug

  • Hybrid

    Green Shell Suit

  • Orbital

    Quality Seconds

  • Orbital

    The Box

  • Ian Brown

    Stardust, instrumental

  • Maps

    Without You

  • Curve

    Unreadable Communication

  • Triosk

    Intensives Leben

  • Deaf Center

    Dial, Helios Remix

  • Knife

    Marble House

  • Marconi Union

    Ginza District

  • Deaf Center

    City

  • Underworld

    Glam Bucket

  • Peter Gabriel

    Heroes (Instrumental)

Credits

Presenter Michael Mosley
Executive Producer Jonathan Renouf
Series Producer Kate Townsend
Director Nicola Stockley
Production Manager Jessica Ross

Broadcasts