 |
| | | | PROGRAMME INFO | | | |
| | | Quentin Cooper reports on developments across the sciences. Each week scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects.
material.world@bbc.co.uk | | | | | LISTEN AGAIN 30 min | | | |
|
|
|
|
PRESENTER |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
"For me science isn't a subject, it's a perspective. There are fascinating scientific aspects to everything from ancient history to the latest gadgets, outer space to interior decorating; and each week on The Material World we try to reflect the excitement, ideas, uncertainties, collisions and collaborations as science continues its never-ending voyage into the unknown".
Quentin Cooper |
|
|
|
BIOGRAPHY
INTERVIEW |
| |
| | |
| PROGRAMME DETAILS | | | |
|  | | | Are you feeling lucky? |
The Psychology of Luck
Why do some people lead happy successful lives whilst other face repeated failure and sadness? Why do some find their perfect partner whilst others stagger from one broken relationship to the next? What enables some people to have successful careers whilst apparently similar others find themselves trapped with jobs they detest? And can unlucky people do anything to improve their luck - and lives? Ten years ago, Dr. Richard Wiseman decided to search for the elusive luck factor by investigating the actual beliefs and experiences of lucky and unlucky people.. Looking at the results, Wiseman was able to identify four main factors which explained living a lucky and unlucky life. He was then able to show a group of people that considered themselves unlucky, how to think and behave like lucky people. The results were astounding with almost all participants reporting significant life changes: including increased levels of luck, self-esteem, physical well-being, confidence, and success.
Music & Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the brain that influences cognition, function, and behaviour. Although only identified as a specific form of dementia by Alois Alzheimer less than a century ago, this age-related disease has become one of the most prevalent and frightening of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, affecting the lives of many people and massively shaping and influencing health-care provision and funding. However, together with hoped-for breakthroughs in DNA and brain-cell research, work is underway on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments that will help to sustain and extend quality of life for Alzheimer's patients. Among non-pharmacological approaches the use of music is particularly beneficial because it touches hard-wired areas of the brain and can elicit positive reactions in patients even in the later stages of the disease.
Part of the difficulty and challenge of Alzheimer's disease is that it disturbs psychological integrity - memory, context, identity, language, and relationships - through an irreversible process of brain atrophy. The mysterious and often disturbing passage of this disease as it distorts, curtails and finally destroys its victims' integrity and independence, is increasingly familiar but still little understood by either victims or their families. As verbal communication breaks down and recognition weakens, so too, very often, do family relationships and support. As research has shown time and again, these factors are crucial to the continued functioning of patients. However, certain deep-seated neurological structures associated with musicality remain relatively intact until the final stages of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore music continues to elicit responses in sufferers and provide vital paths to communication.
Quentin talks to Professor Paul Robertson, leader of the Medici string quartet and Visiting Professor of Music Psychology at the Universities of Kingston and Bournemouth and Dr John Zeisel, specialist in the care of Alzheimer's patients. He also talks to Richard Wiseman, Professor of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, author of 'The Luck Factor' and ex professional magician and Chris French, Professor of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London. | | |
RELATED LINKS
BBCi Science
Paul Robertson
John Zeisel
Richard Wiseman
Chris French
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
| |
| |
|
