The Mind Numbing Medicine
Rutherford and Fry investigate how anaesthetics work and what can they tell us about different states of consciousness.
This episode will render you oblivious, conked out and blissfully unaware. It鈥檚 about anaesthetics: those potent potions that send you into a deep, deathly sleep. Listener Alicia wants to know how they work, so our sleuths call on the expertise of consultant anaesthetist Dr Fiona Donald. Fiona shares her experience from the clinical frontline, and explains what we do and don鈥檛 know about how these chemicals work their mind-numbing magic.
We hear about ground-breaking research led by Professor Irene Tracey, which reveals how a pattern of slow brain waves can be used to determine the optimum dosage of these dangerous drugs.
And finally, Drs Rutherford and Fry wonder: what does all this tell us about normal consciousness? Professor Anil Seth shares how we can use brain tech to measure different levels of conscious awareness 鈥 from sleepy to psychedelic.
Presenters: Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford
Producer: Ilan Goodman
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Broadcasts
- Tue 7 Feb 2023 11:00成人快手 Radio 4
- Thu 9 Feb 2023 16:00成人快手 Radio 4
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