Leafing Through Science

Can you measure imagination? Following Episode 7 - Part 1, Hedi continues his conversation with neurologist Adam Zeman about his book “The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination” – from Francis Galton’s 19th-century “breakfast table” questionnaire to today’s ingenious experiments putting the “mind’s eye” under the microscope. You’ll hear how simply imagining sunlight can make your pupils constrict, and how mental imagery can bias what you see and smell.We explore how imagination can heal – like playing Tetris after trauma to weaken intrusive images in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – and how it can misfire in the hallucinations of Parkinson’s disease or bereavement, when a “phantom spouse” may still be seen or felt, or in Functional Neurological Disorder, where expectations and emotions can produce real physical symptoms, even paralysis. Zeman shares the unforgettable case of “Toby” to show the power of suggestion at work.We also look at how mental rehearsal helps surgeons, musicians, and athletes: imagery can boost performance and even increase strength via neural efficiency. Finally, we visit the extremes – from aphantasia to hyperphantasia – with hints of genetics, acquired cases, and aphantasic artists (including Ed Catmull, former President of Pixar & Disney Animation) who prove that creativity doesn’t depend on a mind’s eye.Every two weeks, the podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.Relevant links:The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination by Adam ZemanMore about Adam (also read Adam Zeman Q&A – New Statesman)Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(02:23) At the Breakfast Table of the Mind(05:31) Imagining Sunlight, Shrinking Pupils(10:04) The Fragrance of Thought(13:27) Tetris Therapy in PTSD(16:34) The Case of Toby: Suggestion and Functional Disorders(23:01) Phantom Spouse and the Predictive Brain(26:32) Mind Gym: The Power of Mental Practice(30:07) The Man Who Lost His Imagination(37:13) Creativity Without Imagery: Painting With Jet-Black Paint(38:42) Behind the Book: Twenty Years in the Making(40:16) Adam's Book RecommendationsEpisode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi Young Concept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann, Andreia Pinho and Teresa Fernandes Host: Hedi Young Guest: Adam Zeman Graphic Design: Marta Correia Sound Design: João Van Zelst Dissemination: Ana Rita Mendes, Diana Cadete, Thaïs Lindemann and Andreia Pinho

Close your eyes for a moment. Can you picture an apple? Maybe it’s red and shiny, maybe green and crisp. Now imagine if you couldn’t picture it at all. For some people, imagination comes in dazzling technicolour, while for others, it’s silent and dark. And for all of us, it’s the hidden stage on which so much of life plays out.Whether reminiscing about the past, planning the future, or daydreaming at work, how does the brain pull off this everyday act of detachment from the here and now?In Episode 7 - Part 1 of Leafing Through Science, neurologist Adam Zeman joins Hedi to discuss “The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination”. From the imaginary companions of childhood that help us understand other minds, to inner speech and music, and healthy individuals who hear voices that seem to come from outside themselves, to the sheer prevalence of mind-wandering in almost every activity we do (except one), Adam guides us through the latest science in the strange world of the imagination.Along the way, he reminds us that imagination isn’t just “castles in the sky”; it’s a system that supports memory, emotion, and creativity. Tune in to Part 1 for a clearer picture of what’s going on in your brain the next time a thought pops into your mind.Every two weeks, the podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.Relevant links:The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination by Adam ZemanMore about Adam (also read Adam Zeman Q&A – New Statesman)Chapters:(00:00) Losing the Mind’s Eye(04:05) Defining Imagination(07:10) The Mind’s Eye, Ear, and Fingertip(08:50) What Imagination Is For(11:15) Remembering the Future(13:13) Understanding Other Minds through Imaginary Companions(16:43) A Spectrum of Inner Worlds(18:41) Drifting into Dreams(21:36) Mind-wandering: The Art of Being Elsewhere(25:08) Inner Speech and Voice Hearing(29:13) The Generative Nature of Perception and Imagination(33:37) The Daydreaming Brain Network(37:38) The Autonomous, Spontaneous Brain(40:43) Wrapping UpEpisode CreditsCreator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann, Andreia Pinho and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Adam ZemanGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes, Diana Cadete, Thaïs Lindemann and Andreia Pinho

In Episode 6 - Part 2 of Leafing Through Science, Hedi continues his conversation with neuroscientist Nicole Rust, author of “Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders – and How We Can Change That”. If Part 1 set the stage for a whole new way of thinking about the brain, Part 2 shows where that shift might take us.Nicole explores how moving away from the “domino-chain” view of the brain toward seeing it as a complex dynamical system – full of feedback loops and interactions – is opening doors to exciting new discoveries. They talk about the challenges of measuring brain disorders, why fundamental research is so essential, and how predicting salmon populations can help predict seizures in the brain.Along the way, they touch on Nobel Prizes won for solving problems without fully understanding how, surprising insights into why we sleep, and yes, there’s even room for a cat quip or two.Every two weeks, the podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.Relevant links:“Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders – and How We Can Change That” by Nicole RustMore about NicoleChapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:52) Chaos in the Brickyard: Bricks vs. Buildings(02:54) Measuring Depression: The Standardisation Dilemma(05:01) Studying Causes in Isolation Isn’t Enough(06:47) AlphaFold and the Nobel Prize Paradox(10:40) Replacing the Cartesian Theatre(14:44) The Parkinson’s Puzzle: Maths Meets Medicine(17:29) From Salmon to Seizures: Lessons from Ecology(20:43) When Talk Therapy Rewires the Brain(24:26) The Retina Project: Speaking the Brain’s Language(26:57) The Case for Curiosity(28:53) Why One-Size-Fits-All Doesn’t Work(31:14) The New Grand Plan for Neuroscience(35:06) The Brain as a Two-Sided Coin(39:11) Barriers Beyond the Lab(40:33) Big Teams, Little Teams(41:59) Cancer as a Complex System(43:42) Things vs Processes: Cat or Catting?(47:03) Wrapping UpEpisode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann, Andreia Pinho and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Nicole RustGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes, Diana Cadete, Andreia Pinho and Thaïs Lindemann

In Episode 6 (Part 1) of Leafing Through Science, we dive deep into one of the biggest challenges in medicine: understanding – and treating – the human brain. Hedi is joined by professor and brain researcher Nicole Rust, author of “Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders – and How We Can Change That”.Nicole asks a provocative question: what if treating brain disorders is less like replacing a broken part in a machine, and more like trying to redirect a hurricane? Nicole argues that only by embracing the brain as a complex adaptive system can we hope to make real progress.From how many psychiatric drugs still trace back to chance discoveries in the 1950s, to what moods are for, and how the brain’s very adaptability may be the source of its fragility, this conversation explores a major shift in how we think about the brain – one that could accelerate advances in understanding and treating its disorders.Every two weeks, the podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.Relevant links:“Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders – and How We Can Change That” by Nicole RustMore about NicoleChapters:(00:00) The Dream of Weather Control(01:06) Introduction(03:36) Cracking the Code – But Not the Disease(05:41) Empty Pages in the Brain’s Manual(07:49) Why Simple Fixes Fail(11:14) The Three Classes of Disorder(13:08) The Domino Theory of the Brain(18:30) Bench to Bedside… Sometimes(23:17) How Antipsychotics Were Discovered by Accident(26:08) The Elusive Biology of Schizophrenia(29:10) Why, What, and How: A Multi-Level Understanding of the Brain(35:31) The Brain’s Superpower Is Its Weakness(40:14) Why Do We Have Moods?(47:58) Wrapping Up Episode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann, Andreia Pinho and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Nicole RustGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes, Diana Cadete, Thaïs Lindemann and Andreia Pinho

Following Episode 5 - Part 1, where we explored the hidden world of the hypothalamus and the “love hormone” oxytocin, this second part of Hedi’s conversation with neuroendocrinologist Gareth Leng takes us even deeper. You’ll hear how neurons in the hypothalamus can change the very language they speak and who they’re speaking to; discover the astonishing experiment where researchers transplanted brain tissue from one animal to another, resetting the host’s internal clock; and meet a molecule so strange it can suppress appetite, boost libido, and even give you a tan.From circadian rhythms to the science of obesity, settle in as Gareth guides us further into the secrets of the brain below.Every two weeks, the new podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.Relevant links:“The Heart of the Brain: The Hypothalamus and Its Hormones” by Gareth LengMore about GarethChapters:(00:22) Introduction(01:57) Saving Every Drop(06:11) Relay Runners in Your Brain(07:29) Neurons That Speak Many Tongues(12:47) Transplanting Clocks into Brains(18:13) Why Morning Light Wakes You Up(21:34) Appetite and Desire (and Tans)(27:46) The Mystery of Stable Weight(32:28) A Long Argument with Yourself(35:46) Gareth's Reading RecommendationsEpisode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Gareth LengGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.

Appetite. Aggression. Puberty. Parenthood. Even 48-hour prairie vole mating marathons. Is there anything the hypothalamus isn’t involved in? In Episode 5 (Part 1) of Leafing Through Science, Hedi is joined by neuroendocrinologist Gareth Leng, author of “The Heart of the Brain: The Hypothalamus and Its Hormones”.From the “love hormone” and maternal bonding, to why your brain is more like a quantum computer, discover the brain’s secret hormonal languages that drive your behaviour and keep you alive.Every two weeks, the new podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world – and yourself.Relevant links“The Heart of the Brain: The Hypothalamus and Its Hormones”More about GarethChapters:(00:00) The Hypothalamus: All Human Life Is There(01:06) Introduction(02:19) "Let me know when you’ve found something interesting"(06:52) From Heresy to Nobel Prizes: the Birth of Neuroendocrinology(10:34) Behaviour: From Primal Drives to Profound Bonds(12:59) Clans of the Hypothalamus(15:41) Whispers and Public Announcements(18:02) Why Connections Aren’t the Whole Story(20:04) Is the Brain a Quantum Computer?(22:47) Shakespeare and Peptides(24:46) Same Hormone, Different Message: The Many Lives of Oxytocin(29:26) Beyond the Love Hormone: Breastfeeding, Birth and Bonding(34:15) From Sex to Attachment: Voles and Valentines(40:03) Vasopressin and the Making of a Monogamous Male(45:13) The Hypothalamus: His and Hers(46:11) Pulse and Surge: The Rhythm of Reproduction(50:38) Kisspeptin Enters the Story(56:12) Sexual Rejection and Fertility(58:40) Wrapping UpCreditsCreator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Gareth LengGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.

Why is there something it’s like to be you – and could AI ever be truly conscious? In Episode 4 of Leafing Through Science, neuroscientist and bestselling author Anil Seth joins Hedi to explore the mystery at the heart of his acclaimed book Being You: A New Science of Consciousness.From philosophical zombies and the purpose of dreaming, to measuring consciousness like temperature and why brains aren’t computers, Seth unpacks the idea that our experience of reality – and of ourselves – is a kind of waking dream, a “controlled hallucination”, shaped by prediction, perception, and the body’s primal drive to stay alive. His theory of what it means to ‘be you’ challenges how we understand perception – and turns what you thought you knew about yourself on its head.Every two weeks, the new podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. From new releases to timeless classics, we explore everything from consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and eye-opening stories.🔗 Relevant links:“Being You: A New Science of Consciousness” by Anil SethMore about Anil⏱️ Chapters:(00:00) Turning People into Objects(01:07) Introduction(02:26) From Vitalism to Consciousness(03:54) A Definition in Progress(06:01) Why Aren’t We Just Zombies?(10:22) The Real Problem of Consciousness(13:34) A Yellow Mug, Not a Blue Teapot(14:41) Can We Build a Consciousness Meter?(25:55) Perception as Controlled Hallucination(34:02) How the Brain Builds Time(38:17) Dreams as Uncontrolled Perception(42:28) Inferring the Body, Just Like the World(44:46) Emotions Holding the Self Together?(46:39) The Beast Machine Theory(51:39) Brains Aren’t Computers(56:08) Would This Robot Be Conscious?(01:02:41) Wrapping Up🎙️ Episode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Anil SethGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.

In Episode 3 of Leafing Through Science, Hedi sits down with David Adam – science writer and author of the bestseller The Man Who Couldn't Stop: The Truth About OCD – to explore the strange and unrelenting world of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).What drives someone to fear their own thoughts, or an Ethiopian schoolgirl to eat the wall of her house, bit by bit? Why do millions of us get stuck in loops of doubt and dread? And what does it mean to have a brain that simply won’t let go?David reveals the hidden mechanics of OCD – from the weird thoughts that exist within us all, to the condition’s so-called “patient zero”, white bears and Winston Churchill’s own battle with egodystonia. David traces the fine line between ordinary mental noise and debilitating compulsion and gives an honest account of his own struggles.Along the way, their discussion challenges the notion of what counts as “normal” thought, and reflects on the evolution of treatment – from lobotomies and cavalier surgeons to today’s more effective, evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.Every two weeks, the podcast series Leafing Through Science brings together host Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, with the authors behind some of the most fascinating non-fiction books in the life sciences. We explore everything from the mysteries of consciousness and free will, to alien hands and minds under siege. Expect page-turning ideas, head-spinning science, and stories that might just change how you see the world.🔗 Relevant links:The Man Who Couldn't Stop: The Truth About OCDMore on DavidInterview with Gonçalo Cotovio on Lesional OCD using TMSNeuropsychiatry Unit - Champalimaud FoundationOCD-UKInternational OCD Foundation⏱️ Chapters:(00:00) Teaser(01:04) Intro(02:36) What is OCD?(04:22) Common Themes of Obsessions & Compulsions(06:20) Everyone Has Intrusive Thoughts(08:35) Why OCD Develops(10:05) Egodystonic Thoughts(12:34) The White Bear Phenomenon(15:02) Inflated Responsibility(18:01) David's Personal Journey with OCD(21:10) Living Life on Autopilot(24:10) Hitting Bottom(26:02) Success with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(30:03) Surgical Horrors(31:43) PANDAS & TMS(33:06) New Approach to OCD and Mental Illness(35:50) Advice & Resources for Those Affected by OCD🎙️ Episode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi Young Guest: David AdamGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.

Sian Harding, a world leader in cardiac research, joins Hedi to reveal the heart as you’ve never seen it before, as they discuss her book The Exquisite Machine: The New Science of the Heart. From how social rank, air pollution, noise, and even your mother’s pregnancy diet can shape heart health, to the heart’s mini-brain or growing hearts in the lab from skin cells, they uncover the remarkable ways this muscular organ does far more than “just” pump blood.They also talk about how the heart doesn’t only respond to emotions – it creates them too – and how a broken heart is more than just a metaphor, as we explore the mystery behind “Broken Heart Syndrome” and the heart’s response to emotional shock. Harding takes us on an eye-opening journey through the science that’s rewriting how we understand our body’s most poetic organ – and how it could help us tackle one of the world’s biggest health challenges.Relevant links:“The Exquisite Machine: The New Science of the Heart” by Sian E. HardingMore about SianBritish Heart FoundationWomenHeartChapters:(00:00) The Quake That Broke Hearts(00:57) Introduction(01:51) A Heart Like You’ve Never Heard Before(04:04) The Influence of Social Status(07:05) Pollution, Noise and the Heart(10:20) Heart Health and Maternal Diet(13:07) Mutations and "Second Hits"(15:59) Inside the Engine Room(17:58) Alive Without a Heart(18:45) Artificial Hearts and Stolen Lifelines(20:31) Living Without a Pulse(21:13) The Beating Beauty Beneath the Glass(22:06) Heart Cells Need Company (and a Workout)(23:13) Hidden Hills and Valleys(24:46) Heart Failure and Heart Attacks Explained(28:35) The Cardiac Cost of Cancer Drugs(30:14) The Heart's Mini-Brain(32:46) Heartbeat Timing and Subliminal Fear(35:56) Broken Heart Syndrome(38:56) Sudden Collapse on the Football Pitch(41:03) Gender and the Heart(44:01) Growing Hearts in the Lab(49:53) "Disease in a Dish" Approach(52:29) Gene Therapy to the Rescue?(56:26) Wrapping UpEpisode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Moheb CostandiGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.

Following Episode 1 - Part 1, this second part of Hedi’s conversation with science writer Moheb Costandi unpacks how our sense of agency – the feeling of being in control of our actions and responsible for their outcomes – can be disrupted in conditions like Alien Hand Syndrome and schizophrenia, manipulated on the operating table, or even altered in everyday life. Their discussion also ranges from the science behind anorexia nervosa and Alice in Wonderland Syndrome to peripersonal space – the invisible bubble around our bodies that helps define the boundary between self and world. What do these insights reveal about the nature of consciousness itself?Relevant links:Book – Body Am I: The New Science of Self-Consciousness by Moheb CostandiMore about MohebFurther Reading & Support for Conditions Mentioned:Research and support for chronic pain and phantom limb painSupport for amputees and prosthetics usersCharity for limbless veterans and their familiesSupporting those with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosaChapters:(00:00) Introduction and Overview of Bodily Awareness(01:52) When Hands Have a Mind of Their Own(03:30) Distorted Agency in Schizophrenia(06:25) Avatar Therapy(07:33) An Alien Hand Case(08:52) Manipulating Agency in the Lab(10:57) Surgically Hijacking Free Will(12:25) Body Awareness in Anorexia(16:27) Alice in Wonderland Syndrome(19:53) Peripersonal Space(24:40) Prosthetic Limbs and Robotic Hands(26:15) Implications for Consciousness(27:34) Wrapping UpEpisode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Moheb CostandiGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.

In this inaugural episode, Hedi sits down with veteran science writer Moheb Costandi about his fascinating book Body Am I: The New Science of Self-Consciousness.From phantom breasts and rubber hands to the Pinocchio illusion and out-of-body experiences; from amputating a healthy leg to feel whole, to scratching an itch with a ghostly third arm – prepare to journey through the strange and astonishing ways our brains construct a sense of bodily self. Moheb walks us through the science, the syndromes, and the people whose experiences reveal just how malleable – and downright bizarre – our sense of owning a body really is.Relevant links:Book – Body Am I: The New Science of Self-Consciousness by Moheb CostandiMore about MohebChapters:(00:00) Losing a Limb to Feel Whole(01:12) Introduction(03:36) Understanding Bodily Awareness(04:41) A Hand That Isn’t Mine vs. A Hand I Can’t Control(05:51) Phantom Limbs, Breasts, and Beyond(08:26) Phantom Sensations in Transgender Individuals(09:49) Counting with Invisible Fingers(11:14) Therapies for Phantom Pain(12:50) Rubber Hands, Rubber Tails: The Illusion from Humans to Mice(16:34) Hammers, Knives, and Illusions in the Pub(18:32) Body Integrity Identity Disorder(21:08) A Surgeon, a Pistol, and a Leg(22:02) Hemiplegia and The Denial of Paralysis(23:36) Discovering Body Maps in the Brain(26:58) Scratching an Itch with a Ghostly Third Arm(29:02) The Multisensory Mind(30:13) Inducing Out-of-body Experiences(31:50) The Body Swap Illusion(32:35) The Barbie Doll Illusion(33:49) Proprioception and the Pinocchio Illusion(35:00) The Story of Ian Waterman(36:20) Interoception and the Origins of Emotion(39:21) Alexithymia and Emotional Blindness(39:56) Wrapping Up & What’s NextEpisode Credits:Creator & Series Producer: Hedi YoungConcept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa FernandesHost: Hedi YoungGuest: Moheb CostandiGraphic Design: Marta CorreiaSound Design: João Van ZelstDissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana CadeteThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.