The mind-numbing medicine

Discovery

BBC

Science

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode will render you oblivious, conked out and blissfully unaware. It’s 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’t 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 – from sleepy to psychedelic.

Transcript

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0:00.0	He's a rule-breaker, a trend-setter. He reshaped art and redefined graffiti.
0:07.4	How does he smell?
0:08.4	I paint.
0:09.4	Has he got any distinction features?
0:10.8	His anonymity.
0:11.8	But who is he?
0:13.2	What's his name?
0:14.0	Banksy.
0:15.0	Apparently, I've mentioned twice.
0:16.5	The Banksy story.
0:18.0	Banksy's work is always about the human spirit versus the establishment.
0:24.2	Listen on BBC Science.
0:27.2	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts
0:33.2	In 2008, 23-year-old Norwegian student Martina Vick Magnussen was killed in an apartment near Mayfair.
0:41.2	Hours after her death, the only suspect in the case fled the UK to Yemen.
0:46.2	He's never been questioned by the police.
0:49.2	I'm Noel Elmechathy and I made a promise to Martina's family 15 years ago to find out what happened.
0:55.2	Murder in Mayfair.
0:57.2	Part of the documentary, find it wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
1:02.2	Hello and welcome to the curious cases of Rutherford and Fry on Discovery for the BBC.
1:08.2	This is the programme where you send us in the queries, questions and conundrums that you are curious about.
1:14.2	And we will look into them on your behalf using the power of science.
	...

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