All in the Mind

How does reading shape our mind and spirit? Why do novels make us feel more human?

In front of a live audience at the Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, Claudia Hammond looks at the science of what reading does to the mind and explores the profound impact it can have on our lives and well-being.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

What would you say is the difference between the mind and the brain?

Claudia delves into this complex question after listener Paul got in touch to ask about Near Death Experiences. What can they tell us about the mind, the brain and who we are? Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex and author of Being You tackles this profound topic.

Studio guest Catherine Loveday discusses brand new research on how exactly the brain brings old memories from our pasts into our minds.

And Anita got in touch after hearing our discussion of knowledge theft, asking what motivates idea-stealing and whether it’s always intentional. Lillian Ellis, Assistant Professor at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia shares the evidence on 'cryptomnesia' - the common act of plagiarising ideas unconsciously.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

Everyone experiences unwanted thoughts from time to time.

But how does it feel to be trapped in a constant cycle of intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours?

This is the reality of life for many people with obsessive compulsive disorder, a common - but commonly misunderstood - mental health condition.

So today we’re dedicating the programme to understanding OCD and how it’s treated.

We’ll visit Britain’s only inpatient unit, Seacole Ward at Springfield Hospital in London, where we’ll meet Albert and Emily who explain what it’s like when life is governed by OCD, and consultant psychiatrist Dr Ilenia Pampaloni who likens intensive treatment to "bootcamp" where patients must face their worst fears 24 hours a day.

We're also joined in the studio by Dr Bruce Clark, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital in London, to tackle some ingrained OCD stereotypes and dissect the common phrase, "I'm a bit OCD".

Bruce offers advice on how to spot early signs of OCD and what we should do if we’re worried - and explains how he stays hopeful because the condition is so treatable.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

Details of organisations offering information and support with obsessive-compulsive disorder are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

Claudia Hammond and guests offer insights into tackling knowledge theft and discourteous emails.

Dr Emma Russell, occupational psychologist and reader in occupational and organisational psychology from the University of Sussex, has insights into perpetrators of disrespectful emails. And studio guest Dr Pete Olusoga, senior lecturer in psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, tells Claudia about new research into knowledge theft and how to make repairs if it happens.

And Dr Madoka Kumashiro, from Goldsmiths, University of London, will discuss the Michaelangelo phenomenon – the idea that spending time with people who bring out the best in us helps to reveal our ideal inner self.

And finally, Pete Olusoga has research on mind-blanking which is increasingly thought to be a distinct brain state, different to mind-wandering or sleep.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

How can we feel ok in a world that isn’t?

With multiple global crises going on at the same time, it can make many of us feel very uncertain and anxious.

But why are we affected by events happening so far from home - and what can we do to help ourselves feel better in difficult times?

Clinical psychologist Linda Blair and Channel 4 News international editor Lindsey Hilsum share their wisdom.

And should we plan in 20 minutes a day just for worrying? That’s the idea of a “worry window”, where we block off a time to get all our worrying done in one so we can enjoy the rest of our day.

Daryl O’Connor, professor of psychology at the University of Leeds, brings us the evidence.

Also this week, can we really be addicted to social media?

Claudia tasks Andy Przybylski, professor of human behaviour and technology at the University of Oxford, with answering this surprisingly tricky question.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

Details of organisations offering support with some of these issues are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

How well can you remember the details of your childhood? Sometimes, the memories are there, but a little hazy. But what if you could trick your brain into thinking you looked like your younger self again? Would that help you recall more childhood memories? A new study has tried exactly this, so Claudia Hammond meets Professor Jane Aspell to have a go at an illusion that makes you believe you have a younger version of your face.

Imagine navigating across an ocean, only using the feel of waves hitting your boat to locate yourself. That’s exactly what master navigators in the Marshall Islands do, and in August, Professor Hugo Spiers and doctoral student Maria Ahmad joined local sailors on a three day voyage in the Pacific. They tell Claudia how Marshallese sailors are able to navigate in this way and what this can teach us about the brain.

And Claudia is joined in the studio by Daryl O’Connor, professor of psychology at the University of Leeds. Daryl shares how self-affirmation can be an easy intervention to boost wellbeing, and new research on why the more often you see a public health campaign, the less your brain engages with the message.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

More than 32,000 asylum seekers are being housed in hotels in the UK, the latest figures show.

There's been intense political debate in recent weeks focused on the cost – both financially for the government and for local communities.

But what about the cost to the mental health of those living in the hotels?

Today we’re going to hear from an asylum seeker who spent more than a year in a hotel in London, and we’ll examine the evidence for the impact on people’s mental health with clinical psychologist Dr Janelle Spira.

Dr Peter Olusoga, senior lecturer in psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, joins us in the studio with the latest research, including a study that raises the prospect of using a common acne drug to cut risk of schizophrenia and new evidence on the psychology of losing.

And what if we could mentally reframe winter to make it more enjoyable? We get some tips from clinical psychologist Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

Details of organisations offering support with mental health, or feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

It is now compulsory for schools across the UK to teach children about mental health and wellbeing. Whilst it might seem like classes for everyone on these topics might be helpful, a new study has found that in some cases, they may actually be worsening mental health problems. How could this be? Claudia Hammond is joined by Dr Lucy Foulkes to discuss the possible reasons why.

Listener Paul got in touch to ask why some drivers get road rage. What is it about being in a car that makes people see red? On hand to answer is traffic psychologist Professor Dwight Hennessy, who has been studying the phenomenon for years.

And Claudia is joined in the studio by Catherine Loveday, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Westminster. Catherine brings us new research looking at how we remember emotional memories and why musicians show a higher resistance to pain. Plus, we reflect on some of your feedback on hoarding disorder.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

This programme may contain information that you might find to be evidence-based and informative...

Trigger warnings are everywhere.

They’re used in the news, on social media and in academia to flag potentially distressing material so we can emotionally prepare ourselves or avoid it.

But what if they actually make things worse?

We interrogate a growing body of evidence that suggests they aren’t working in the way they are intended. So should we still be using trigger warnings?

Also this week, we’ll hear from psychotherapist and author Stephen Grosz who'll share what he has learnt about love and gift-giving from four decades of conversations with his patients.

And Daryl O’Connor, Professor of Psychology at the University of Leeds, joins us in the studio and brings news of a study on links between discrimination and inflammation in the body, and why carrying out acts of kindness for others comes with benefits for you...

Presenter: Claudia Hammond

Autism tends to be viewed as a spectrum, but a new study published this month in Nature suggests that there are both genetic and behavioural differences between early and later diagnosed autism. So is autism still a spectrum, or should we be thinking of it as having multiple different subtypes? Claudia Hammond talks to Professor Uta Frith, who has pioneered autism research for decades, about what this means for how we view autism now.

The universities of Cambridge and Durham are launching a study to help them unlock the secrets of vivid memory. Postdoctoral researchers Kasia Mojescik and Martha McGill tell Claudia how they plan to find out what makes a memory vivid, why some memories are more vivid than others, and how people can get involved in their work.

And Claudia is joined in the studio by Catherine Loveday, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Westminster. Catherine brings us new research on how state-level income inequality can impact how children’s brains develop, and the myriad ways music can affect dining experiences.

If you'd like to take part in the vivid memories research survey, you can find it here: https://www.english.cam.ac.uk/research/memory/get-involved/

Presenter: Claudia Hammond