Netflix: Explaining the Mind Unravels the Mysteries of the Human Brain

The human mind is one of the most fascinating things there is. It is a “thing” because it is so complex that it is difficult to classify it into something less abstract than that. What is known about her is still poorly understood and somewhat mysterious, but the Netflix try to break through this area in your series explaining the mind.

From a scientific point of view, it took centuries for neuroscience to understand what the structure of the human brain is like and how it works in parts, but many questions have not yet been answered. After all, unraveling such a complex machine is a difficult task (especially when we look at the unique human mind).

explaining the mind is an spin off (“derived”, in free translation) of the series explaining (from 2018, with two seasons and covering different subjects), both from Netflix, which tries to bring this subject (the mind) in a light and dynamic way. It has 5 episodes in its first and so far only season. Each of them addresses an intriguing neuroscience topic: memory, dreams, anxiety, meditation e psychedelics.

These are quick episodes (approximately 20 minutes long), simplified and in a language that even those who have no prior knowledge of the subject can absorb the content. However, they elucidate a lot of information at the same time.

All these episodes are narrated by Emma Stone (from La La Land, 2017) and the series alternates between explanatory images, interviews with specialist neuroscientists and testimonies related to the episode's theme. If we are going to unravel this composition, we realize some factors that make the series dynamic and, consequently, in the rhythm of our minds.

The narrative is fast and you have to be attentive to follow the reasoning, which follows in a logical way. When drawings are shown, they are in bright, dynamic colors. The past (ancient images and reports) are contrasted with the present (explanations of neuroscientists, scientific articles and testimonies of people connected to the subject). See the trailer:

If we stop to think about it, this is exactly how our minds work: kind of messed up. This structure, of continuous exchange of scenes, blurred images and other elements constitutes the puzzle of our brain. This effect may not have been intentional, but it makes you stare at the screen.

If you try hard, you will even notice a difference in "speed" from episode 3 to 4. In 3, which deals with anxiety, it seems that the episode takes place within a panic attack. In Episode 4, on the other hand, which is about meditation, everything is calmer, from the less agitated drawings to the background music and some parts of the narration.

The explanation of such complex topics is a little quick. It seems superficial, but it is, at the same time, engaging. If it went deeper, it would take much longer than 20 minutes. Interestingly, the names of scientific studies are clearly presented, so you can search for them to find more information.

I also need to understand that explaining the mind cannot answer all the questions we have. The reason is simple: the mind is almost like a “black hole” of the human body, that is, there are many things we still don't know (apart from the fact that, as with black holes, no one has entered one to find out what it's like). ). Despite this, the series delves into questions that are already fully or partially understood and shows those that are still a mystery.

Basically, explaining the mind it is for those looking for something quick and interesting, but also for those who are sympathizers of the subject. You will certainly learn something new and exciting and, if you are naturally curious, you will go in search of information.

Episodes of Explaining the Mind

Memory

It is quite likely that when someone talks about 11/XNUMX, someone always comes up to say what he was doing at the moment he saw the news (millennials and some of generation Z probably had their drawing interrupted). But is your memory that good or are you missing something?

The episode revolves around the 11/XNUMX attack and how people remember what happened. Or, rather, how brains build these memories and how they can be distorted, no matter how sure you are that it happened that way.

In addition, there is an explanation about people who have the (enviable) ability to remember thousands of numbers, words and images as if the brain had an infinite storage capacity. Some techniques for this are shown, such as the Memory Palace (and can be a great tip).

On the other hand, there are curious reports of cases of people with some amnesia problem. One of them is Henry Molaison (whose problem looks a lot like the one seen in the classic movie as if it was the first time, from 2004).

Some questions raised and explored are: if the function of memory is to preserve the past, why are they not reliable? If the memory system is unreliable, why does it exist? The answers are shown throughout the episode.

Dreams

the second episode of explaining the mind it's about something we don't quite understand yet: dreams. For starters, some questions shown in this episode are: are dreams mythical or do they have some meaning? Why do we dream? Why do dreams mix reality and abstract things? Is it possible to control dreams?

In human history, dreams have inspired many achievements ranging from the organization of the periodic table to various works by Salvador Dalí. Freud, several neuroscientists and many ancient cultures sought some explanations for dreams, which are, even today, surrounded by mysteries.

There are, during human sleep, several stages. One of them is precisely where dreams occur most vividly, the REM phase (Rapid Eye Movement, or Rapid Eye Movement, in Portuguese), in which the eyes move and there is high brain activity. How this works is one of the aspects that are analyzed in episode two.

Anxiety

Who has never been anxious for a specific reason (or maybe none in particular)? Anxiety is a natural response to fear that can manifest itself in different ways (perhaps more in some people and less in others) and is the central theme of the third episode of explaining the mind.

In terms of anxiety attacks and feelings of panic, the episode goes deeper and explains between the lines what it is, how it is why this form of anxiety so intense happens and why it happens to some, in addition to what we can do about it. . How is a panic attack similar to the feeling of danger in which your body signals and gives you all the support to fight (or run), for example?

Also, what is the limit between natural and rational anxiety (like the one that tells you to run when you're facing a hungry lion) and the anxiety that harms your socializing? What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and How Is It Linked to Anxiety? Where do anxiety disorders come from and what to do to try to get around them?

This episode shows different “levels” of anxiety, such as the everyday one, in which we are scared and distressed by some situations (such as having to pay bills) and the extreme one, which can make social coexistence difficult. Phobias, fear of being evaluated, of not knowing what is going to happen, of losing control and other variations of anxiety.

Another very interesting point addressed is about the possibility of being increasingly anxious: are we in an anxiety epidemic or is this something that comes from other times? If so, is social media and technology in general to blame? What is the role of medicines and therapies in this scenario? All this is answered during this episode, which has several scientific data to support the arguments.

Meditation

Meditation is a somewhat controversial topic. Many people believe in its true effects, while others doubt it. the fourth episode of explaining the mind addresses what meditation can do not only for your mind, but also for your body.

“Take a deep breath, focus on inhaling and exhaling, release tension from your body, relax”… If you think meditation is talk to sleep, you will be surprised to see the results of some scientific studies presented. However, there is a boundary between meditation and exaggeration and this is clearly spelled out.

There are different types of meditation, ranging from the most “calm” to the most “agitated”, religious rituals, those that relax and those that increase concentration, etc. There's something for all tastes. in the case of Mindfulness, the goal is to bring attention to what the mind is doing, something a bit complicated these days. As a counterpoint, the technology that makes us so inattentive can help meditate anytime and anywhere with specific apps.

At its core, meditation isn't about controlling your life, it's about how you respond to events in your life. This leads us to question: How can meditation help with problems such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit and others? How can breathing techniques lead to mind control?

psychedelics

It is not new that it is known that some substances cause changes in the mind, which can take you on a journey through a totally different world for a while. For example, a magic mushroom capsule can make you feel less anxious for a long time. Two can make a large proportion of smokers quit for a year.

Bizarre, isn't it? How can such an experience have such varied and drastic effects? That's exactly what the latest episode of explaining the mind It doesn't try.

The accounts range from the discovery of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) – one of the most famous hallucinogenic drugs and one that can alter your perception of reality for hours – in almost detail, through the 60s and the hippie boom, to prohibition not only LSD, but also other psychedelics. The truth is, no one knew exactly what these drugs could cause.

The episode also discusses myths and truths surrounding psychedelics: do they affect chromosomes? What's the risk? Do they induce mental problems? Do they lead to mythical and spiritual experiences? How are psychedelics different from alcohol and other drugs (cocaine, heroin, etc.)? What is the difference between psychedelics and meditation?

This episode breaks some myths and shows both sides of psychedelics, the risks and benefits, plus all the uncertainty associated with the unknown. Still, it presents how they break with the perception we have of the real world and what their effect is on the brain.

general analysis

explaining the mind it is certainly an easy, quick and thought-provoking journey through the human mind. The series could, yes, have addressed some other points, but doing so would have lost its purpose of being fast. Therefore, it is more like an introduction to diverse subjects related to neuroscience.

It is not because it is introductory that it clings to the superficiality of the subject. It is possible to capture complex details that are well explained. In addition, the dynamics match the topics covered and have an interesting rhythm.

explaining the mind it's one of those that you can see at once and that you get “caraminholas” in your head when you're done. It may be necessary to interrupt a few times to read the name of a scientific article or analyze an image more calmly, but this does not interfere with the understanding of what is being said (pausing to analyze better is more suitable for those who really want to go deeper).

Finally, whether for those who want something light to distract and, at the same time, expand their horizons or for those who are a fan of neuroscience and curious about how this perfect machine called the brain works, explaining the mind it's a full plate. Almost paradoxically, it's a series that leaves your mind working to understand its own fascinating workings.