National Geographic: Brain Games

This day and age even our documentaries often get "dumbed-down." Shows about the natural world, for example, are filled with close-ups of extreme snake-handlers or tornadoes, and it often seems that about the only documentaries that capture the general public's fascination are "shark weeks."However, National Geographic's Brain Games is a wonderful exception. Smart and engaging, the three episode series looks at the way our brain works, demonstrating how the brain processes information and stimuli and how that shapes how we look and interact with the world around us. The world is complicated, and our brain works extremely hard to process and make sense of it. Most of the time, it's successful at helping us cope with others and the world around us, but sometimes it fails. And, thanks to recent advances in cognitive science, we are able to examine (and learn from) failure-cases like never before. Sounds complicated and boring, but Brain Games isn't. There are at least 15 interactive experiments that the viewer can participate in throughout each show. These aren't boring math problems, but rather truly interactive experiments; many will leave you in complete surprise when the the results are revealed. (For example, did you manage to notice the error I did in the previous sentence?) If you didn't, it's because our brain is constantly shaping the world around us so that it makes sense to us, and assumed there should only be a single "the" there instead of two.Brain Games doesn't try to cover the implications of the scientific studies they highlight, (and it shouldn't, as that would be an entire series unto itself) but these are of immense importance and have real, practical consequences. Our belief systems are based on the way our brains look at and construct the world, and so, for example, we believed for thousands of years that the sun revolved around the earth. Even now, our common disagreements on contentious, incommensurable issues such as abortion, (Does life begin at birth or conception?), may be traceable at least in part to the way our brains help shape and construct our beliefs.Do yourself a favor and grab this DVD. Brilliant job by National Geographic.

So far I have purchased every season of Brain Games on DVD and they keep getting better! I am a middle school teacher and I show these to my students from time to time. They basically beg me to play them, and I really enjoy them as well. They really make you think and some of the facts really blow all of our minds! I like how when the experts and scientists explain stuff so anyone can understand it, even my 5th graders. Their favorite parts are the illusions and games that they can play along with the DVD. They are a great way to understand the concept and see it in real time. I give Brain Games a HUGE 5 stars!!

We loved it

Bought this video for my class, did its job

Not a bad speaker for the size and price. It produces good quality sound with surprisingly rich base for such a small package at reasonable volume levels. The sound quality tends to diminish at the higher volume levels. The outer rubberized coating will protect the speaker and is a nice touch for anyone traveling or moving it around often. Good speaker for moderateGreat Video! It is interesting and entertaining for everyone from 7 years old to 107 years old. It will transform the way you think about yourself, others, and the world around you. You will start to understand how your brain works and how its amazing strengths can become a hindrance. You will walk away amazed, challenged, and changed.A great resource for trainers, teachers, and homeschoolers.

Not bad. Gave me plenty of ways to laugh at my now X when we watched it and I was better at it all than he ever was.

I am a high school teacher... I teach AP Psychology and Criminology. The three disk set is a wonderful addition to both of these courses. Difficult psychological concepts are taught and explained (McGurk Effect, change blindness, selective attention, perceptual constancy,rubber hand illusion, etc.) thoroughly, but the best feature of the videos is that they are so interactive in nature. Instead of sitting passively during the video, the viewer is encouraged to play along with various interactive "brain games". My students especially loved the brain games that forced them to become witnesses to a crime scene. Many were surprised how fallible their memory was during the line up task.Highly recommended for any psychology teacher, or any one else who desires more insight how the brain works.

I used the episodes in the DVD to play in between lectures and found the students were really into it. They began trying to play the games suggested and it led to some really interesting discussions. It was worth the money spent on it. The video is engaging and NPH does a great job as narrator. I suggest it for teachers who are looking for something for the high school and college level students.