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States of mind
Generously supported by the Wellcome Trust
What is consciousness? What does it mean to have consciousness? Is it only humans that experience it? And how can the study of the unconscious help us to understand what it is to be human?
Exciting discoveries and novel ideas are raising scientific and ethical questions about how we define ourselves as 'human'.
To explore this brave new research, this year's Cheltenham Science Festival is hosting four debates on Friday 6th June to investigate brain mapping, altered states of mind, neuroscience and psychology.
We consider three 'states of mind', hypnosis, sleep and unconsciousness, before bringing together scientists and bio-ethicists to debate what all this means.
On this page you will find information about the events and speakers, and ideas for where you can learn about and debate these topics further.
Hypnosis
Town Hall, Friday 6 June 2008
How does the artificial manipulation of human consciousness work? And what are the risks? Do hypnotherapists reach the depths of our unconscious mind to change our behaviour, or are they merely tricking us into self-deception?
Hypnotherapist Michael McCoy and psychologist Peter Naish discuss the psychology and neuroscience of trance.
Further information
- How Hypnosis Works - a beginner's guide to the science and sensationalism of hypnosis.
- Alternative Therapies - Hypnotherapy - Kathy Sykes, one of the Festival co-Directors, explored hypnosis as part of her BBC / Open University series on alternative therapies.
- Alternative Therapies - A role for hypnotherapy - Peter Naish discusses some of Kathy's ideas and a possible medical role for hypnosis.
- The British Society of Clinical and Academic Hypnosis - a resource for both health professionals and members of the public who are seeking information about hypnosis.
- Michael McCoy tempts you to try the lighter side of hypnosis on his own website.
Sleeping and Dreaming
Town Hall, Friday 6 June 2008
We sleep for about one third of our lives, and this most enigmatic of mental states has inspired science and art for centuries. But what does the latest research reveal about our brains during sleeping and dreaming?
Join Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre Chris Idzikowski and social anthropologist Iain Edgar to discover the secrets of our slumbering minds, and how different cultures have understood their visual creations.
Further information
- Sleepfaring: A journey through the science of sleep by Jim Horne
- Sleeping and Dreaming - this event was inspired by the Wellcome Collection's 'Sleeping & Dreaming' exhibition in London.
- How Sleep Works - an introduction to the science of sleep.
- The Edinburgh Sleep Centre is at the forefront of research into sleep disorders.
- BBC Science & Nature, Sleep - interesting advice and tips about your personal sleep profile and how to cope with sleep disorders.
Unconsciousness
Town Hall, Friday 6 June 2008
Do people have some hidden understanding of speech when they are unconscious? Recent brain imaging research on certain types of coma has detected signs of awareness in patients who cannot respond or communicate. This raises questions about how doctors and families should deal with patients in a vegetative state - especially as the results and inferences of this research are still considered highly contentious
Neuroscientists Matt Davis and Parashkev Nachev talk to Robert Winston about one of the most ethically challenging conditions in modern medicine.
Further information
- The Quick by Laura Spinney. Imagine being totally paralysed but fully conscious, able to see, hear, smell and sense pain, but unable to communicate...
- Adrian Owen at the University of Cambridge - fascinating research led by Adrian Owen (on which speaker Matt Davis collaborated) was the inspiration for the States of Mind series. Their cutting edge research opens questions about how society defines coma, consciousness and the vegetative state.
- Matt Davis at the University of Cambridge - learn more about how your brain responds to speech whilst awake and sedated.
- The Daily Telegraph - discusses some of the key issues. This research has re-opened a contentious debate about how the medical profession and patients' families should manage the diagnosis and care of brain damaged patients.
Consciousness
Town Hall, Friday 6 June 2008
To conclude the strand of events, Peter Naish and Chris Idzikowski join neuroscientist Geraint Rees, ethicist Richard Ashcroft and broadcaster Vivienne Parry to debate what three 'States of Mind', sleep, unconsciousness and hypnosis, tell us about the human brain and consciousness.
How can the latest in brain-mapping, neuroscience and psychology help us to understand what it is to be human?
Further information
- Consciousness - a user's guide by Adam Zeman
- New Scientist: The Human Brain - a beginner's guide to your brain.
- TIME: The Mystery of Consciousness - Steven Pinker's Time magazine article on the Mystery of Consciousness to get you thinking about consciousness and the complex scientific and philosophical issues it raises.
Creative Minds
a project exploring the science and art of dreams
In the lead up to the States of Mind events, the Festival's Education Team, together with artist and scientist Dr Lizzie Burns, have been running a series of fascinating workshops with schools and community groups throughout Gloucestershire.
Learning about how the brain works and the science of sleep, they have been using this unusual theme to discover their own artistic flair, creating unique painted masks which offer a glimpse into the emotions and memories experienced during this 'state of mind.'
All the masks will be displayed at the Cheltenham Science Festival in June.
To find out more, please contact the Cheltenham Festivals Education Team.
