1. How the Brain Creates the Body: Whose Leg is This? (Part 1)

In this inaugural episode, of the new podcast series Leafing Through Science Hedi Young, Champalimaud Foundation neuroscientist and science communicator, sits down with veteran science writer Moheb Costandi about his fascinating book Body Am I: The New Science of Self-Consciousness. From phantom breasts and rubber hands to the Pinocchio illusion and out-of-body experiences; from amputating a healthy leg to feel whole, to scratching an itch with a ghostly third arm – prepare to journey through the strange and astonishing ways our brains construct a sense of bodily self. Moheb walks us through the science, the syndromes, and the people whose experiences reveal just how malleable – and downright bizarre – our sense of owning a body really is. 🔗 Relevant links: Book – Body Am I: The New Science of Self-Consciousness by Moheb Costandi: https://mitpress.mit.edu/978026254836... More about Moheb: https://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/ ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Losing a Limb to Feel Whole 01:12 Introduction 03:36 Understanding Bodily Awareness 04:41 A Hand That Isn’t Mine vs. A Hand I Can’t Control 05:51 Phantom Limbs, Breasts, and Beyond 08:26 Phantom Sensations in Transgender Individuals 09:49 Counting with Invisible Fingers 11:14 Therapies for Phantom Pain 12:50 Rubber Hands, Rubber Tails: The Illusion from Humans to Mice 16:34 Hammers, Knives, and Illusions in the Pub 18:32 Body Integrity Identity Disorder 21:08 A Surgeon, a Pistol, and a Leg 22:02 Hemiplegia and The Denial of Paralysis 23:36 Discovering Body Maps in the Brain 26:58 Scratching an Itch with a Ghostly Third Arm 29:02 The Multisensory Mind 30:13 Inducing Out-of-body Experiences 31:50 The Body Swap Illusion 32:35 The Barbie Doll Illusion 33:49 Proprioception and the Pinocchio Illusion 35:00 The Story of Ian Waterman 36:20 Interoception and the Origins of Emotion 39:21 Alexithymia and Emotional Blindness 39:56 Wrapping Up & What’s Next 🎙️ Episode Credits: Creator & Series Producer: Hedi Young Concept Development & Curation: Ana Rita Mendes, António Monteiro, Carla Emilie Pereira, Catarina Ramos, Diana Cadete, Hedi Young, João Van Zelst, John Lee, Marta Correia, Thaïs Lindemann and Teresa Fernandes Host: Hedi Young Guest: Moheb Costandi Graphic Design: Marta Correia Sound Design: João Van Zelst Dissemination: Ana Rita Mendes and Diana Cadete The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Champalimaud Foundation.