My Brain Made Me Do It explores the intersection between neuroscience and criminal behaviour. Groundbreaking research is shedding light on why some people can’t stop themselves from committing harmful or criminal acts. This phenomenon is creating new challenges for the justice system and making us re-evaluate the way we sentence, punish, and rehabilitate people for criminal behaviour.
My Brain Made Me Do It includes surprising stories of people whose behavior has radically changed when their biology has changed due to tumours, accidents, drugs, chemistry, and abuse. What causes a well-respected businessman to wake up one morning and go on a violent shooting rampage? Or a loving father to suddenly become a pedophile at the age of 50? Or a cautious senior to transform into a compulsive gambler?
Featuring neuroscientist, David Eagleman (Director, Center for Science and Law) creator and presenter of the PBS series “The Brain” and narrated by David Suzuki of CBC’s “The Nature of Things”, My Brain Made Me Do It includes an international cast of neuroscientists including Patrick Haggard (Professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College, London), Joshua Greene (Professor of Psychology, Harvard University), Joshua W. Buckholtz (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Harvard University), Jefferey Burns (Professor of Neurology, University of Kansas School of Medicine), Russell Swerdlow (Professor of Neurology, University of Kansas School of Medicine) and Kent A. Kiehl (Professor, University of New Mexico & Director of The Mind Research Network).
We’ve all heard people say, ‘It was beyond my control’ or ‘I couldn’t stop myself’. We like to think that we’re all ultimately in control of our actions. But how true is this really?
Directed by: Ryszard Hunka