Navigating the Pacific without technology

About this episode

The episode explores memory recall through illusions and the unique navigation techniques of Marshallese sailors.

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 Producer…

People in this episode

Host: Claudia Hammond

Guests: Professor Jane Aspell, Professor Hugo Spiers, Maria Ahmad, Daryl O’Connor

Topics covered

• memory
• navigation
• psychology
• wellbeing
• ocean exploration
• childhood
• self-affirmation

Keywords

• childhood memories
• brain illusion
• Marshall Islands
• ocean navigation
• self-affirmation
• public health campaigns
• psychology research

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Leeds, BBC Radio 4

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