Ep 7. Try This At Home

Try This at Home is the seventh episode of the sixth season of the popular television show, Brain Games. This episode explores the incredible power of the human brain by presenting several interesting and entertaining experiments that the viewers can try at home.

The episode begins by introducing the concept of perception, which is the way that the brain interprets sensory information from the environment. The show hosts explain that while our perception is generally accurate, it can be fooled at times, leading to optical illusions and other tricks of the mind.

To demonstrate this, the first experiment of the episode involves a group of people standing on a busy street corner. A member of the Brain Games team walks up to each person and asks them to make note of the color of their shirt. However, while the person is looking at the shirt, another team member walks between them, blocking their view of the shirt for just a split second. When asked again, many of the people give a different answer to the color of the shirt. This experiment shows how easily our perceptions can be disrupted, even by something as small as another person walking by.

The episode then moves on to more complex experiments, such as one involving the interpretation of sounds. The viewers are shown a clip of a man making a whooshing sound by blowing air through his lips, while the show's hosts ask them to guess what object is making the sound. Most viewers will likely assume that the sound is coming from something like a fan or wind chimes, but the reveal is that it is just the man blowing air through his lips. This experiment shows how our brain automatically tries to match up sensory input with familiar patterns, even if those patterns are not entirely accurate.

Another portion of the episode is dedicated to exploring the concept of multitasking. The viewer is asked to complete several tasks at once, such as counting the number of words on a page while remembering a list of unrelated objects. The hosts then explain that while the brain is capable of multitasking to a certain extent, it is much more efficient to focus on one task at a time. By trying to do too many things at once, we can actually decrease our overall productivity.

The episode also covers the concept of distraction, which is another way our brain's ability to focus on a task can be disrupted. Viewers are asked to watch a video of a basketball game and count the number of times a certain team passes the ball. While they are doing so, a man dressed in a gorilla suit walks onto the court and waves his arms around. The majority of viewers do not even notice the gorilla, as their focus is too narrow. This experiment shows how we can become so absorbed in a task that we overlook important details.

Throughout the episode, the hosts provide tips and tricks for improving brain function, such as taking breaks during long tasks and practicing mindfulness meditation. The viewer is also given information about how the brain works, such as how neurons communicate with each other and how different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions.

Overall, Try This at Home is an entertaining and informative episode of Brain Games that showcases the incredible power of the human brain and provides the viewer with hands-on experiments to try at home. By exploring the limits of perception, multitasking, and distraction, the show's hosts provide valuable insights into how the brain works and how we can improve our mental abilities. Whether you are a seasoned Brain Games viewer or a newcomer to the show, Try This at Home is a must-see episode.