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The Uncommon Senses

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Barry Smith and Nick Ryan present a  journey into the human multi-sensory experience.

Philosopher Barry Smith and sound artist Nick Ryan present a  journey into the human multi-sensory experience

The Uncommon Senses: Series 1

The Uncommon Senses: Series 1: The Predictive Brain

22/03/2017

The Predictive Brain

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - The Uncommon Senses, Series 1, The Predictive Brain

Do our brains predict what we are about to do? Philosopher Barry Smith explores.

Do our brains predict what we are about to do? How do they know, and what happens when they get it wrong? Philosopher Barry Smith explores.

For thousands of years people thought we had 5 senses, now it's believed we have up to 33. In this ten-part series, philosopher Barry Smith and sound artist Nick Ryan take us on a journey into the extraordinary world of sensory perception.

In this episode: The brain has a more pro-active role in sensory perception than you might think. Rather than passively waiting for sensory input, like a blank slate waiting to be written on, the brain is constantly second-guessing what it expects from our senses. 

Sometimes, it gets it wrong, and the world becomes a very confusing place.

Producer: Emily Knight.

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Philosopher Barry Smith and sound artist Nick Ryan present a  journey into the human multi-sensory experience.

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The Uncommon Senses

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The Predictive Brain

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