Watch Your Best Brain

Name: Your Best Brain
Genre: Documentary & Biography
Released: 2014-11-14
Cast: John Medina

TV-PG
2014
1 Season

Your Best Brain, a part of The Great Courses Signature Collection starring John Medina, is an entertaining and engaging exploration of the human brain and its capabilities. Medina, a scientist and best-selling author, dives into the mysteries of the brain to help viewers understand how their thinking processes work and how they can boost their mental performance.

Throughout the show's 12-part series, Medina presents scientific evidence and real-life examples that demonstrate the incredible power of the brain. From the importance of sleep to the benefits of exercise and how to improve memory, Medina provides practical tips and strategies for people to enhance their cognitive abilities and achieve their potential.

The show is divided into 12 episodes, each focusing on a different aspect of brain function. The first episode, "What is the Brain?", provides an overview of the brain's anatomy and the complex processes that take place inside it. From there, Medina delves into specific topics, such as attention, memory, language, emotions, and creativity, among others.

The show uses a variety of techniques to keep viewers engaged and interested. Medina presents his lessons using vivid graphics, animations, and illustrations, along with easy-to-understand language that breaks down complex scientific concepts into bite-sized pieces. He also uses humor and personal anecdotes to keep the show lighthearted and relatable.

One of the show's key strengths is its ability to connect scientific knowledge with practical applications. Medina provides numerous strategies and techniques that viewers can use to optimize their mental performance. For example, in the episode "Boosting Memory", he emphasizes the benefits of repetition and the use of mental imagery to improve memory. In "Mastering the Art of Attention," Medina teaches viewers how to increase their attention span and become more focused.

In addition to discussing practical tips, the show also examines some of the latest research on brain function. In "The Neuroscience of Emotions", Medina explores the neuroscience behind emotions and reveals how understanding our emotions can help us regulate our behavior and improve our mental health.

Throughout the series, Medina also tackles common misconceptions and myths about the brain. For example, he debunks the idea of left-brain vs. right-brain dominance, revealing that the two hemispheres of the brain are interconnected and work together. He also discusses the myth of multitasking, showing that humans are not wired to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and that attempting to do so can be detrimental to cognitive performance.

Overall, Your Best Brain is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to take control of their cognitive health and learn how to optimize their brain function. Medina's engaging presentation style and practical advice make the show accessible and enjoyable for viewers of all ages and backgrounds. With each episode, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the fascinating world of the human brain and how they can enhance their mental performance to achieve their goals.

Your Best Brain is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between November 14, 2014 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

24. Why Your Brain Needs Sleep

November 14, 2014

You've probably noticed how poor sleep can hinder your ability to think and focus. But why exactly is sleep so important? How does it contribute to a healthy brain? Uncover answers to these questions and more, and get four science-backed tips for sleeping better.

23. Improving Your Memory

November 14, 2014

Want to improve your memory? Learn what scientific research indicates is useful for improving memory - and more importantly, what popular beliefs have been debunked. Discover how you can use diet, social interaction, and even certain kinds of video games to increase your ability to remember events and details.

22. The Power of Exercise

November 14, 2014

Decades of research points to exercise as a key for strengthening your brain. Find out how regular movement drastically improves cognitive performance, combats depression, and can even cut the risk of dementia in half. See just how much exercise you need to start seeing these benefits (it's less than you might think).

21. How Self-Control Works

November 14, 2014

Discover the origins of self-control in your brain. Explore what the research has to say about its role in helping you succeed in life, handle tough situations, and thrive in society. Examine an evolutionary explanation for cases of impaired self-control like ADHD.

20. How Your Brain Copes with Grief

November 14, 2014

Why do we grieve the loss of loved ones? Is there an evolutionary reason for it? And why does grief leave some people devastated while others move on quickly? Explore these questions and more. Also, learn strategies from brain science for dealing with - and helping others deal with - the pain of great loss.

19. How Your Brain Ages

January 1, 1970

For many, aging brings memory loss, decreased focus, and mental fogginess. Yet some people seem to be just as sharp at 100 years old as they were at 40. Discover what science has demonstrated about why some age more gracefully than others, and what you can do to keep your mind sharp as you grow older.

18. Sex and Your Brain

January 1, 1970

Dive into the evolutionary roles of sex, arousal, and promiscuity. Discover the fascinating biological and cultural differences between men and women when it comes to sex. Peer inside an enlightening study involving monkeys, naked men on the beach, and naked women doing aerobics.

17. How Adolescent Brains Work

January 1, 1970

Peer into the often-mysterious behavior of a teenager. Why do they take the risks they do? What makes them rebellious? Why are they so moody? Get seven practical tips for relating better to teenagers, whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor, or coach.

16. How Infant Brains Work

November 14, 2014

The human brain is not fully functional until adulthood. From birth, an infant's brain is constantly making new connections as it experiences the world. Explore the development stages of an infant from a neuroscientific perspective, including what science recommends to ensure that your kids eat their veggies.

15. Your Social Brain

November 14, 2014

The social nature of human beings is an evolutionary advantage that put us at the top of the food chain. But our social abilities have the potential for painful or dangerous consequences. Reflect on the joys and risks of relating to others. Consider what a recent business school experiment uncovered about how you can more easily resolve conflicts.

14. How Your Brain Manages Stress

November 14, 2014

Though stress is usually considered negative, research reveals it is our perceived inability to control stress that does most of the damage. Unravel how the brain responds to stress on a neurological and chemical level, and survey what neuroscience research has to say about how to reduce stress in your life by learning to control it.

13. What Makes You Happy

November 14, 2014

Is happiness sustainable? What makes some people happier than others, despite similar life circumstances? Explore the stories of two lottery winners, one who crashed and another who thrived. Discover two key areas you can focus on to create a happier life.

12. Pleasure and Your Brain

November 14, 2014

Explore the brain's "pleasure highway" with a tour of what drives the sensation of pleasure in our brains, and understand how video games and other substances hijack this process to create addictions. Then, learn how to harness your brain's craving for pleasure to break nearly any habit.

11. How Emotion Drives Attention

November 14, 2014

Your senses bombard your brain with far more information than it can possibly handle at one time. How does your brain prioritize all of the input? Examine the brain's ability to act as a "central executive," and see how it uses emotion like post-it notes to decide what is important.

10. Feeling with Your Brain - Emotion

January 1, 1970

Did you know that if you see a shocking photograph, you'll experience the emotion even before the image registers consciously in your mind? Why is this? What's happening in your brain? Investigate the physical process behind emotions, including the neurological "fast path" that accelerates our reaction to external threats.

9. Seeing with Your Brain - Vision

November 14, 2014

We often think of vision being like a video camera - our eyes take a picture, and that's what we see. But that's not how the brain works. Uncover the complex process the brain uses to construct the hallucination that is our sense of vision.

8. How Your Brain Uses Your Senses

November 14, 2014

The objective reality of the world around you and what your body senses are two very different things. Examine the three-step process the body uses to create sensations in response to outside stimuli. Then, learn a simple trick for using your senses to boost your ability to remember facts.

7. Creativity and Fluid Intelligence

November 14, 2014

What makes people creative? Scientists believe it may it hinge on two contrasting elements: open-mindedness and deep focus. Tour the neuroscience of creativity, explore the significance of working memory in the creative process, and learn how you can boost your creative output.

6. The Advantages of Forgetting

November 14, 2014

Discover the surprising evolutionary purpose of memory, and why it has nothing to do with recalling the precise details of the past like a computer. Find out what causes our brains to forget facts and data, and why. Then, get three research-based tips to improve your memory.

5. How Your Brain Uses Memory

November 14, 2014

Why are scientists so unsure of the exact definition of intelligence? Explore the challenges of measuring and quantifying intelligence, including the problem with IQ tests. Find out how researchers currently think about intelligence, and the implications these ideas have on the way we design school curriculums.

4. Neuroplasticity - Your Flexible Brain

November 14, 2014

Dive deeper into the physical structure of the brain and its components. Examine the three primary types of neuron wiring, how they operate on a cellular level, and how the brain is able to create new connections and pathways.

3. Damaged Brain, Damaged Function

November 14, 2014

The brain is a physical organ whose job is to process information. And if it's damaged, your processing can go haywire. Tour the physical structure of the brain, the three overall regions within it, and the role each part has in keeping you alive (including a look at your brain's internal "consciousness switch").

2. Your Unique Thinking Abilities

November 14, 2014

What makes the human brain so different from the brains of other animals? Explore the brain's evolutionary journey, and discover the unique ability that allowed humans to not only survive in the face of change - but to thrive.

1. How Your Brain Works

November 14, 2014

Begin your journey with a "flight map" for your tour of the world's most sophisticated survival organ - the human brain. Establish some common language and principles for understanding and exploring the human brain. #Science & Mathematics

Description

Where to Watch Your Best Brain

Your Best Brain is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Your Best Brain on demand at Amazon and Hoopla.