Automatic Brain


(1) The Power Of The Unconscious Docu-Drama

Over 90 percent of all our daily actions are done unconsciously – an “auto-pilot“ in our head. Automatic Brain takes a look at how unconscious processes steer the lives of two ordinary people, from everyday routines to life choices such as finding a partner. A fascinating documentary that explores the work of the world’s leading scientists and explores how the unconscious brain shapes our attention, perception and memory.

Automatic Brain explores the work of the world’s leading scientists in the way that the unconscious brain shapes our attention, perception and memory.

With brain guru Allan Snyder of the University of Sydney, John Bargh in Yale, Henrik Ehrsson in Stockholm, Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik in Phoenix / Arizona, Walter Mischel at the Stanford kindergarden and with many others, we look at the intriguing, often entertaining research of neuro scientists. We learn about futuristic devices that let us see the world as it really is, we feel being outside our body, we look what subconscious strategies sweet preschool-kids invent to resist the temptation of a marshmallow. And with Professor Allan Snyder we start to wonder if there really is a free will: “Who is really in charge?”, Snyder asks, “is our consciousness no more than the PR-department, in order to make us believe that we are really in control?”

Automatic Brain explores the work of the world’s leading scientists in the way that the unconscious brain shapes our attention, perception and memory.

With brain guru Allan Snyder of the University of Sydney, John Bargh in Yale, Henrik Ehrsson in Stockholm, Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik in Phoenix / Arizona, Walter Mischel at the Stanford kindergarden and with many others, we look at the intriguing, often entertaining research of neuro scientists. We learn about futuristic devices that let us see the world as it really is, we feel being outside our body, we look what subconscious strategies sweet preschool-kids invent to resist the temptation of a marshmallow. And with Professor Allan Snyder we start to wonder if there really is a free will: “Who is really in charge?”, Snyder asks, “is our consciousness no more than the PR-department, in order to make us believe that we are really in control?”

Facts

Awarded Gold World Medal at New York Festival
Awarded Audience Prize at Paris-science
Awarded European Science TV Award
Awarded Chicago International Film Festival, Best Non-Fiction
Nominated Adolf-Grimme-Prize

Episode 1: The Magic of the Unconscious: First aired on 9th December 2011, 21:45 p.m., on arte, 23rd Juli 2012, 23.40 pm on ARD

Shot on locations in Germany, USA, United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Australia

  • Feedback

  • Feedback

  • Feedback

  • Feedback

  • Feedback

Credits

Written, directed and produced by: Petra Höfer, Freddie Röckenhaus and Francesca D’Amicis

Cast: Henriette-Fee Grützner (Martha), Johannes Moss (Jake), Anja Signitzer, Apollo Robbins

Director of Photography: Marcus von Kleist

Video Editor: Johannes Fritsche

Producer: Kay Schlasse

Line Producer: Svenja Mandel

Narration: Benjamin Völz (German), James Mitchell (English)

Commissioning Editors: Thomas Hallet (WDR), Thomas Kamp (WDR)

A colourFIELD production, co-produced by WDR Cologne

Full credits

Related Films