Medically trained journalist Michael Mosley reveals how surgical breakthroughs have shaped the evolution of modern medicine. He begins by investigating the history of brain surgery, discovering how the practice was revolutionised by Harvey Cushing, and meeting Howard Dully, who received a lobotomy from infamous physician Walter Freeman

The Brain is an astonishing voyage of discovery into our last biological frontier. Although today s computers can make calculations in one 100th of a second and technology can transport us outside the bonds of Earth, only now are we beginning to understand the most complex machine in the universe. Using simple analogies, real life case studies, and state of the art CGI, this special shows how the brain works, explains its delicate yet resilient nature, and unravels the mystery of consciousness. It takes us inside the mind of a soldier under fire to see how decisions are made in extreme situations, examines how an autistic person like Rain Man develops remarkable skills, and takes on the age old question of what makes one person good and another evil. Using simple analogies, real life case studies, and state of the art CGI, this special shows how the brain works, explains its delicate yet resilient nature, and unravels the mystery of consciousness.

Pinky and the Brain are two laboratory mice living at Acme Labs whose genes have been spliced. The Brain is a genius, whereas Pinky is quite insane. Before each night is done they will unfurl a plan before the dawning of the sun to take over the world. Their twilight campaign is easy to explain: In order to prove their mousy worth theyll overthrow the Earth.

Michael Mosley traces our development from birth to adulthood, and reveals that the human brain is so sophisticated it takes more than twenty years to mature. We see how new-born Phoebe makes sense of the world, and how one-year-old Angelina copes with just half a functioning brain. We discover how Moken sea Gypsy children train themselves to see clearly underwater, and meet a Vietnamese girl who speaks 11 different languages.

In the futuristic setting of the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the University of California, Los Angeles, Alan gets a highly detailed scan of his brain - which for a man in his early 70s, is in remarkably good shape. This image, projected on a huge curved screen behind him, is the starting point for a search within his brain - as well as the brains of others - for the essential components of the Human Spark; a search informed by what the previous two programs have revealed about the attributes that make humans unique.

Brain Facts is a 74-page primer on the brain and nervous system, published by SfN. Designed for a lay audience as an introduction to neuroscience, Brain Facts is also a valuable educational resource used by high school teachers and students who participate in Brain Awareness Week.