Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:05,689 --> 00:00:07,137
SHATNER: Mental abilities
2
00:00:07,241 --> 00:00:10,000
faster than those
of any computer.
3
00:00:10,103 --> 00:00:14,379
Senses that can extend
far beyond the human body.
4
00:00:14,482 --> 00:00:17,931
And a person who can play
the piano like a Mozart
5
00:00:18,034 --> 00:00:20,620
without ever taking a lesson.
6
00:00:23,068 --> 00:00:27,551
There are those who believe the
human brain has more potential
7
00:00:27,655 --> 00:00:30,551
than even the brain itself
can imagine,
8
00:00:30,655 --> 00:00:36,000
and that its true capabilities
might be limitless.
9
00:00:36,103 --> 00:00:41,931
In some ways, we know more about
the far reaches of the galaxy
10
00:00:42,034 --> 00:00:45,241
than we do about the human mind.
11
00:00:45,344 --> 00:00:48,068
How does the brain work,
for example?
12
00:00:48,172 --> 00:00:51,517
Where does genius come from?
13
00:00:51,620 --> 00:00:55,413
And can a person
actually see something
14
00:00:55,517 --> 00:00:58,413
halfway around the world
15
00:00:58,517 --> 00:01:03,655
using only the power
of their thoughts, for instance?
16
00:01:03,758 --> 00:01:06,310
Well...
17
00:01:06,413 --> 00:01:09,068
that is what we'll try
and find out.
18
00:01:09,172 --> 00:01:11,068
♪
19
00:01:25,068 --> 00:01:26,793
Seattle, Washington.
20
00:01:26,896 --> 00:01:29,379
November 2004.
21
00:01:29,482 --> 00:01:33,206
Researchers working at
the University of Washington's
22
00:01:33,310 --> 00:01:35,689
Institute for Learning
and Brain Science
23
00:01:35,793 --> 00:01:39,172
publish the results of a study
about the remarkable ability
24
00:01:39,275 --> 00:01:42,965
that babies have
to learn any language.
25
00:01:43,068 --> 00:01:45,206
Their conclusion:
26
00:01:45,310 --> 00:01:48,206
The smartest
you'll ever be in your life...
27
00:01:48,310 --> 00:01:51,689
- [baby crying]
- ...is the day you are born.
28
00:01:51,793 --> 00:01:55,000
JOANNE RUTHSATZ:
The research shows that
newborn babies are amazing.
29
00:01:55,103 --> 00:01:58,724
They come into this world
really able to adjust
30
00:01:58,827 --> 00:02:00,896
to the stimuli
that they receive.
31
00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,758
[baby laughing]
32
00:02:02,862 --> 00:02:04,586
JUDY HO:
All of the world's languages
33
00:02:04,689 --> 00:02:07,241
compose of about 800 different
types of language sounds.
34
00:02:07,344 --> 00:02:11,206
And as adults, we pretty much
only utilize about 40 sounds.
35
00:02:11,310 --> 00:02:12,862
However, when you're a baby,
36
00:02:12,965 --> 00:02:15,379
you can actually hear
and distinguish the difference
37
00:02:15,482 --> 00:02:18,517
between all 800 sounds.
38
00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:20,586
MICHIO KAKU:
It turns out that babies
39
00:02:20,689 --> 00:02:23,413
are hardwired from birth
40
00:02:23,517 --> 00:02:26,655
to have certain forms
of awareness.
41
00:02:26,758 --> 00:02:29,827
When children babble,
it's just not ordinary babble.
42
00:02:29,931 --> 00:02:31,241
[baby babbling]
43
00:02:31,344 --> 00:02:33,103
You put a tape recorder
in the crib
44
00:02:33,206 --> 00:02:36,862
and you listen to the babbling
and you realize that the baby
45
00:02:36,965 --> 00:02:41,206
is saying the same word
over and over and over again,
46
00:02:41,310 --> 00:02:43,275
that it hears random sounds
47
00:02:43,379 --> 00:02:45,620
that it repeats
until it perfects it,
48
00:02:45,724 --> 00:02:49,482
- until it gets it right.
- [babbles]: Mama.
49
00:02:49,586 --> 00:02:51,241
Looking at the infant brain,
50
00:02:51,344 --> 00:02:54,689
it's like you're looking at the
world's most complicated sponge,
51
00:02:54,793 --> 00:02:56,310
and then you're seeing
how much information
52
00:02:56,413 --> 00:02:57,827
can it actually soak up
53
00:02:57,931 --> 00:03:00,137
and how much of it
gets drained out over time
54
00:03:00,241 --> 00:03:04,137
as the brain begins to develop
into the brains of adults.
55
00:03:04,241 --> 00:03:09,586
HO:
Newborn babies have over
100 thousand billion neurons,
56
00:03:09,689 --> 00:03:11,586
which is twice as much
as an adult brain,
57
00:03:11,689 --> 00:03:14,310
even though their brain
is so teeny tiny.
58
00:03:14,413 --> 00:03:17,551
Later on,
the neurons do prune away,
59
00:03:17,655 --> 00:03:19,551
but in the beginning, basically,
60
00:03:19,655 --> 00:03:22,103
the entire world
is possible for babies.
61
00:03:22,206 --> 00:03:24,482
But we don't know why
certain parts of the brain
62
00:03:24,586 --> 00:03:26,206
are just not accessible
to you as an adult.
63
00:03:28,413 --> 00:03:31,827
SHATNER:
The brain: nature's computer.
64
00:03:31,931 --> 00:03:34,862
After millions of years
of evolution,
65
00:03:34,965 --> 00:03:37,620
thousands of years
of recorded history,
66
00:03:37,724 --> 00:03:41,275
and hundreds of years
of scientific research,
67
00:03:41,379 --> 00:03:44,068
you might think we already know
everything there is to know
68
00:03:44,172 --> 00:03:47,620
about one of the body's most
critically important organs.
69
00:03:47,724 --> 00:03:50,448
But, the truth is,
70
00:03:50,551 --> 00:03:53,137
we don't.
71
00:03:53,241 --> 00:03:55,137
I'm a scientist, and therefore
72
00:03:55,241 --> 00:03:59,172
I'm attracted to things
that are mysterious,
73
00:03:59,275 --> 00:04:02,551
and what are the two greatest,
most mysterious questions
74
00:04:02,655 --> 00:04:04,655
in all of science?
75
00:04:04,758 --> 00:04:08,000
One is the creation
of the universe.
76
00:04:08,103 --> 00:04:10,344
[explosive whooshing]
77
00:04:10,448 --> 00:04:12,724
Why are we here?
78
00:04:12,827 --> 00:04:14,862
The second great mystery is
79
00:04:14,965 --> 00:04:17,896
when you look in the mirror,
you say to yourself,
80
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,551
"What lurks behind those eyes?
81
00:04:20,655 --> 00:04:23,103
Why am I conscious?"
82
00:04:23,206 --> 00:04:25,931
And then you begin to realize
that the brain
83
00:04:26,034 --> 00:04:30,689
is the most complex object
in the known universe.
84
00:04:32,551 --> 00:04:34,482
RAMIREZ:
I think one of
the most unexplained
85
00:04:34,586 --> 00:04:38,068
phenomenon that exists
in the brain is how
86
00:04:38,172 --> 00:04:41,689
it stores, processes
and retrieves information.
87
00:04:41,793 --> 00:04:43,827
Every breath, every experience,
every interaction,
88
00:04:43,931 --> 00:04:45,758
every night of sleep,
every cup of coffee,
89
00:04:45,862 --> 00:04:47,793
all of that changes your brain,
90
00:04:47,896 --> 00:04:51,068
and yet your sense of self
remains pretty intact.
91
00:04:51,172 --> 00:04:54,206
So how the brain holds on
to that information,
92
00:04:54,310 --> 00:04:57,551
how it uses that information
to actually engage in the world,
93
00:04:57,655 --> 00:05:00,379
is a wonderfully
complicated problem.
94
00:05:00,482 --> 00:05:02,275
We know a lot about the anatomy
95
00:05:02,379 --> 00:05:05,000
of different parts of the brain
in great detail.
96
00:05:05,103 --> 00:05:08,275
What the functions are
is another thing.
97
00:05:08,379 --> 00:05:12,310
For example, there's an area
called "area 25,"
98
00:05:12,413 --> 00:05:15,413
and this area is turned on
in people all the time
99
00:05:15,517 --> 00:05:16,793
who are chronically depressed.
100
00:05:16,896 --> 00:05:18,448
And it's just a small area,
101
00:05:18,551 --> 00:05:20,793
but that small area's connected
to a lot of other areas.
102
00:05:20,896 --> 00:05:22,793
It's like Grand Central Station.
103
00:05:22,896 --> 00:05:24,689
So it's not just the area
but everything passing through
104
00:05:24,793 --> 00:05:26,896
and by there in this
whole circuit, and so,
105
00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,000
it's more than just
complicated or complex,
106
00:05:29,103 --> 00:05:31,620
it's-it's still kind of
mysterious that way.
107
00:05:31,724 --> 00:05:34,655
SUSAN SCHNEIDER:
Consciousness, in particular,
108
00:05:34,758 --> 00:05:37,620
is tremendously mysterious.
109
00:05:37,724 --> 00:05:39,896
Neuroscientists
still don't understand
110
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,310
the neural basis
of consciousness.
111
00:05:42,413 --> 00:05:44,000
And philosophers
have pointed out
112
00:05:44,103 --> 00:05:46,724
that, even given the fact
that the brain
113
00:05:46,827 --> 00:05:49,034
is an information
processing unit
114
00:05:49,137 --> 00:05:51,758
of great sophistication,
it doesn't make sense why
115
00:05:51,862 --> 00:05:54,551
it needs to feel
like anything to be us.
116
00:05:54,655 --> 00:05:57,000
And, ironically,
when we're studying it,
117
00:05:57,103 --> 00:05:59,103
we're studying it
from within the confines
118
00:05:59,206 --> 00:06:00,827
of the brain itself.
119
00:06:02,724 --> 00:06:04,827
SHATNER:
Perhaps the best illustration
of how little we know
120
00:06:04,931 --> 00:06:07,379
about the human brain's
inner workings
121
00:06:07,482 --> 00:06:11,000
involves an incident that
happened almost 200 years ago.
122
00:06:11,103 --> 00:06:13,655
It was a case in which a man
lost a large portion
123
00:06:13,758 --> 00:06:17,379
of his brain
in a horrific accident
124
00:06:17,482 --> 00:06:21,344
and, inexplicably, survived.
125
00:06:23,620 --> 00:06:25,275
In 1848,
126
00:06:25,379 --> 00:06:30,896
there was a railroad crew
led by a man name Phineas Gage.
127
00:06:33,310 --> 00:06:36,310
One day, an explosive
went off accidentally,
128
00:06:36,413 --> 00:06:38,896
and a metal rod three feet long
129
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,413
hurled right into his face,
130
00:06:43,517 --> 00:06:46,172
coming out of his skull,
131
00:06:46,275 --> 00:06:49,689
landing 80 feet
into the distance.
132
00:06:51,206 --> 00:06:55,000
Everybody thought that
he was an immediate goner,
133
00:06:55,103 --> 00:06:57,620
but he remained incredibly calm.
134
00:06:57,724 --> 00:06:59,275
He was even talking normally,
135
00:06:59,379 --> 00:07:01,689
even though, apparently,
parts of his brain
136
00:07:01,793 --> 00:07:04,000
were even coming out
the top of his head.
137
00:07:04,103 --> 00:07:06,275
Phineas Gage was just
sitting up talking,
138
00:07:06,379 --> 00:07:08,896
right after this thing blew
through the top of his skull,
139
00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,482
which seems impossible.
140
00:07:11,586 --> 00:07:15,206
MICHAEL DENNIN:
He had a pole basically shoot
in one side up through his jaw
141
00:07:15,310 --> 00:07:16,448
and out of his brain.
142
00:07:16,551 --> 00:07:18,620
Made a significantly large hole
in his brain,
143
00:07:18,724 --> 00:07:20,137
caused a lot of damage,
144
00:07:20,241 --> 00:07:22,034
particularly to the frontal part
of his brain.
145
00:07:22,137 --> 00:07:25,655
And yet, he both survived
and remained functioning.
146
00:07:25,758 --> 00:07:29,758
So I would argue it's evidence
for how complex the brain is.
147
00:07:33,758 --> 00:07:35,931
SHATNER:
After his accident,
148
00:07:36,034 --> 00:07:38,965
Phineas Gage lived
for another 12 years.
149
00:07:39,068 --> 00:07:42,000
By all accounts, he was able to
lead a relatively normal life,
150
00:07:42,103 --> 00:07:45,241
despite his devastating
brain injury.
151
00:07:45,344 --> 00:07:47,103
But how?
152
00:07:47,206 --> 00:07:51,206
How was his brain able
to compensate and function
153
00:07:51,310 --> 00:07:53,482
when parts of it
had been severely damaged
154
00:07:53,586 --> 00:07:55,482
and even destroyed?
155
00:07:55,586 --> 00:07:58,068
It's a question that,
156
00:07:58,172 --> 00:08:00,586
despite everything we continue
to learn about the brain
157
00:08:00,689 --> 00:08:02,068
and its capabilities,
158
00:08:02,172 --> 00:08:05,965
we currently
don't have the answer.
159
00:08:07,965 --> 00:08:10,827
KAKU:
The brain is a learning machine
160
00:08:10,931 --> 00:08:15,034
that rewires itself
after learning every task.
161
00:08:15,137 --> 00:08:18,724
So you were slightly different
than you were a few seconds ago
162
00:08:18,827 --> 00:08:20,482
before you learned something
163
00:08:20,586 --> 00:08:22,413
'cause the brain
has incorporated that learning
164
00:08:22,517 --> 00:08:24,206
into its network.
165
00:08:24,310 --> 00:08:27,137
And that's why I think that
we'll never really learn
166
00:08:27,241 --> 00:08:29,655
everything about the brain,
167
00:08:29,758 --> 00:08:32,344
because the brain
changes with time.
168
00:08:32,448 --> 00:08:34,137
HO:
If we look back
100 years from now,
169
00:08:34,241 --> 00:08:36,275
I'm sure there's
still more to find out,
170
00:08:36,379 --> 00:08:38,551
and we might feel like some of
the things that we're doing now
171
00:08:38,655 --> 00:08:42,482
are prehistoric and perhaps
somewhat misinformed.
172
00:08:42,586 --> 00:08:45,206
SCHNEIDER:
The brain is so complicated
and its functions
173
00:08:45,310 --> 00:08:50,241
are so intricate that, at this
stage of the study of the brain,
174
00:08:50,344 --> 00:08:54,965
we wonder if we even know
the right questions to ask.
175
00:08:57,034 --> 00:08:59,586
SHATNER:
Is the human brain
simply too complicated
176
00:08:59,689 --> 00:09:01,724
for us to fully understand?
177
00:09:01,827 --> 00:09:06,034
Or can we learn more about
the brain's amazing capabilities
178
00:09:06,137 --> 00:09:07,931
by examining people
179
00:09:08,034 --> 00:09:13,310
not with abnormal brains
but with exceptional ones,
180
00:09:13,413 --> 00:09:17,517
individuals with almost
superhuman mental abilities
181
00:09:17,620 --> 00:09:21,655
who are also known as geniuses?
182
00:09:26,758 --> 00:09:29,000
SHATNER: The University of
California, Davis.
183
00:09:29,103 --> 00:09:31,000
June 2018.
184
00:09:31,103 --> 00:09:34,448
Tanishq Abraham receives
his bachelor's degree
185
00:09:34,551 --> 00:09:36,241
with highest honors.
186
00:09:36,344 --> 00:09:40,068
But unlike the other graduates
picking up their diplomas,
187
00:09:40,172 --> 00:09:43,482
Tanishq is only 15 years old.
188
00:09:58,068 --> 00:10:01,310
And then from there on,
we kind of figured, yeah,
189
00:10:01,413 --> 00:10:02,862
he-he's getting
the hang of this,
190
00:10:02,965 --> 00:10:04,896
and so we start introducing
new concepts to him.
191
00:10:15,275 --> 00:10:18,620
BIJOU ABRAHAM:
When Tanishq was four years old,
we took his IQ test.
192
00:10:18,724 --> 00:10:21,517
He had such a high IQ score,
I-I don't think I knew anybody
193
00:10:21,620 --> 00:10:24,068
who-who had that-that high
of an IQ score personally,
194
00:10:24,172 --> 00:10:25,517
so that's when I realized
195
00:10:25,620 --> 00:10:27,827
there's something unusual
about this kid.
196
00:10:37,344 --> 00:10:40,172
TANISHQ ABRAHAM:
I actually want
to go to medical school
197
00:10:40,275 --> 00:10:41,896
and become a doctor,
198
00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,206
and I want to become
a physician scientist.
199
00:10:45,310 --> 00:10:48,586
I know that I have a talent, and
I want to put it to good use.
200
00:10:50,896 --> 00:10:54,551
SHATNER:
What makes Tanishq Abraham's
mind different
201
00:10:54,655 --> 00:10:57,068
from everyone else's?
202
00:10:57,172 --> 00:10:59,965
Although scientists have been
studying child prodigies
203
00:11:00,068 --> 00:11:02,103
like Tanishq for years,
204
00:11:02,206 --> 00:11:04,620
they still don't really
have an explanation.
205
00:11:04,724 --> 00:11:06,448
And in his case,
206
00:11:06,551 --> 00:11:08,379
an explanation is
further complicated
207
00:11:08,482 --> 00:11:13,620
by the fact that Tanishq isn't
the only genius in his family.
208
00:11:16,137 --> 00:11:18,931
BIJOU ABRAHAM:
Tiara started singing
at a really young age.
209
00:11:19,034 --> 00:11:20,896
She started out singing,
like, simple songs,
210
00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,655
like "Happy Birthday"
and-and things like that,
211
00:11:22,758 --> 00:11:24,275
but she sang in an opera style,
212
00:11:24,379 --> 00:11:27,758
and so we'd go and ask
musicians, "Is that normal?"
213
00:11:27,862 --> 00:11:29,275
And they were like,
"That's not normal." So...
214
00:11:29,379 --> 00:11:32,275
That's when we felt, okay,
we have a different type
215
00:11:32,379 --> 00:11:33,793
of prodigy on our hands,
216
00:11:33,896 --> 00:11:36,379
not the highly scientific
intellect type,
217
00:11:36,482 --> 00:11:38,965
but Tiara has her prodigy
more in the arts,
218
00:11:39,068 --> 00:11:41,551
and she has a really
amazing memory.
219
00:11:41,655 --> 00:11:44,620
TIARA ABRAHAM:
I've learned six languages,
220
00:11:44,724 --> 00:11:48,862
including Spanish, French,
Italian and German.
221
00:11:48,965 --> 00:11:53,965
And just for fun, I memorized
around 550 digits of pi.
222
00:11:54,068 --> 00:11:55,827
It's amazing that,
in a short amount of time,
223
00:11:55,931 --> 00:11:57,482
she was able to memorize
those numbers.
224
00:11:57,586 --> 00:12:00,586
She kind of described it
like dance programs,
225
00:12:00,689 --> 00:12:02,310
where the notes start
scrolling down.
226
00:12:02,413 --> 00:12:03,827
And that's how she feels,
she said.
227
00:12:03,931 --> 00:12:05,482
The numbers, they're just
scrolling by,
228
00:12:05,586 --> 00:12:06,931
and she just starts
reciting them.
229
00:12:07,034 --> 00:12:10,241
3.141592653589
230
00:12:10,344 --> 00:12:12,931
793238462643383
231
00:12:13,034 --> 00:12:15,586
2795028841971
232
00:12:15,689 --> 00:12:18,000
6939927510582
233
00:12:18,103 --> 00:12:19,758
097494459.
234
00:12:26,896 --> 00:12:28,482
[laughs]
235
00:12:28,586 --> 00:12:31,517
HO:
People don't even agree on the
definition of what a genius is.
236
00:12:31,620 --> 00:12:33,379
We know that
it's not hereditary,
237
00:12:33,482 --> 00:12:34,965
like the way your eye color is.
238
00:12:35,068 --> 00:12:38,206
And so, really, many times,
people who are defined
239
00:12:38,310 --> 00:12:40,862
or talked about as geniuses,
they do come from families
240
00:12:40,965 --> 00:12:43,068
with parents with normal I.Q.
241
00:12:43,172 --> 00:12:45,206
And so, I don't think
we know very much
242
00:12:45,310 --> 00:12:47,137
about exactly why genius occurs.
243
00:12:47,241 --> 00:12:49,034
TRAVIS TAYLOR:
What's so special
about these kids?
244
00:12:49,137 --> 00:12:52,724
Why is it that their brain
developed in such a way
245
00:12:52,827 --> 00:12:55,862
that they can solve problems
or understand things
246
00:12:55,965 --> 00:12:58,241
that adults take years to do?
247
00:12:58,344 --> 00:13:02,000
We need to understand
why and how this is happening,
248
00:13:02,103 --> 00:13:05,068
and then maybe we can all
tap into that type of power.
249
00:13:07,482 --> 00:13:10,172
SHATNER:
Is it possible that
the potential for genius
250
00:13:10,275 --> 00:13:13,551
lies within each
and every one of us,
251
00:13:13,655 --> 00:13:17,551
somewhere deep within
each of our brains?
252
00:13:17,655 --> 00:13:20,620
Perhaps the answer
can be found by examining
253
00:13:20,724 --> 00:13:23,655
the case of a man
who wasn't born a genius,
254
00:13:23,758 --> 00:13:27,931
but became one...
at the age of 39.
255
00:13:29,586 --> 00:13:31,172
Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
256
00:13:31,275 --> 00:13:33,793
October 27, 2006.
257
00:13:33,896 --> 00:13:36,758
While in town
visiting his mother,
258
00:13:36,862 --> 00:13:40,448
corporate sales trainer
Derek Amato reconnects
259
00:13:40,551 --> 00:13:43,965
with some old friends
at a pool party.
260
00:13:44,068 --> 00:13:46,827
AMATO:
We got together at the pool
for a little barbecue,
261
00:13:46,931 --> 00:13:49,275
and we were challenging
one another
262
00:13:49,379 --> 00:13:51,275
to do all these goofy stunts.
263
00:13:51,379 --> 00:13:53,793
And I told one of the guys
to throw a football,
264
00:13:53,896 --> 00:13:56,793
and I would run and dive
over the water and catch it.
265
00:13:56,896 --> 00:13:58,482
And I hit my head
on the bottom of
266
00:13:58,586 --> 00:13:59,758
the shallow end
of the swimming pool.
267
00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:04,103
I knew I had hurt myself,
268
00:14:04,206 --> 00:14:05,655
but I didn't know
to what extent.
269
00:14:05,758 --> 00:14:07,896
After they took me
to my mom's house,
270
00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,655
she rushed me
right to the hospital.
271
00:14:09,758 --> 00:14:14,172
They had done a bunch of scans,
and I didn't have any bleeding.
272
00:14:14,275 --> 00:14:17,551
So they kept me to monitor
what was going on,
273
00:14:17,655 --> 00:14:19,896
and the next morning
they sent me home.
274
00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,689
SHATNER:
Despite a serious head injury
275
00:14:23,793 --> 00:14:26,793
that could have
left him paralyzed, or worse,
276
00:14:26,896 --> 00:14:30,724
Derek appeared to make
a full recovery.
277
00:14:30,827 --> 00:14:33,068
Other than a bump on his head,
278
00:14:33,172 --> 00:14:36,862
there didn't seem to be
anything different about him.
279
00:14:36,965 --> 00:14:39,517
Or so everyone thought.
280
00:14:41,137 --> 00:14:43,034
I did go home with my mother
and stay with her
281
00:14:43,137 --> 00:14:45,827
for the next five days,
and I slept.
282
00:14:45,931 --> 00:14:49,241
I remember little moments
periodically looking up
283
00:14:49,344 --> 00:14:52,689
and seeing these blocks,
these black and white squares.
284
00:14:52,793 --> 00:14:54,689
And I just thought
they were little marks,
285
00:14:54,793 --> 00:14:56,482
just from my head injury
that I was seeing
286
00:14:56,586 --> 00:14:58,931
these little, uh, shapes.
287
00:14:59,034 --> 00:15:01,413
After five days,
a gentleman that was with me
288
00:15:01,517 --> 00:15:04,482
when I hit my head
came over to pick me up.
289
00:15:04,586 --> 00:15:06,931
And we went over
to his apartment,
290
00:15:07,034 --> 00:15:10,931
and there was a small keyboard
in the corner.
291
00:15:11,034 --> 00:15:13,620
And as we were talking,
I just kind of felt drawn
292
00:15:13,724 --> 00:15:15,620
to walk over to it.
293
00:15:15,724 --> 00:15:19,551
And I sat down,
and that's when my hands
294
00:15:19,655 --> 00:15:21,896
just started to absolutely go
295
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,655
like I'd been playing
for years.
296
00:15:24,758 --> 00:15:27,931
And it was
a pretty profound moment
297
00:15:28,034 --> 00:15:29,344
because I had never
touched a piano.
298
00:15:29,448 --> 00:15:31,827
[playing mid-tempo melody]
299
00:15:33,965 --> 00:15:35,758
I did not see those
black and white squares
300
00:15:35,862 --> 00:15:37,310
prior to my head injury.
301
00:15:37,413 --> 00:15:39,586
And then after some time
working with some doctors,
302
00:15:39,689 --> 00:15:41,172
we kind of put
these pieces together
303
00:15:41,275 --> 00:15:43,310
to understand that
those little boxes are the notes
304
00:15:43,413 --> 00:15:46,758
that are telling my hands
what to do and where to go.
305
00:15:46,862 --> 00:15:49,965
[piano playing
gentle classical music]
306
00:15:50,068 --> 00:15:53,655
SHATNER:
In the years after his accident,
307
00:15:53,758 --> 00:15:55,413
Derek has become
a virtuoso pianist,
308
00:15:55,517 --> 00:15:59,103
and has played on stages
across the United States.
309
00:15:59,206 --> 00:16:01,034
And even though
thousands of people
310
00:16:01,137 --> 00:16:04,206
have now seen him perform,
the question still remains:
311
00:16:04,310 --> 00:16:08,896
How did Derek develop
his incredible ability,
312
00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,724
seemingly overnight,
and without ever taking
313
00:16:12,827 --> 00:16:15,379
a single piano lesson?
314
00:16:15,482 --> 00:16:17,379
[applause]
315
00:16:17,482 --> 00:16:19,965
AMATO:
My reaction at the moment
I discovered my hands
316
00:16:20,068 --> 00:16:21,827
were playing the piano was,
317
00:16:21,931 --> 00:16:24,551
"How am I going to
explain this to someone?"
318
00:16:24,655 --> 00:16:27,862
I became so curious that I
started looking on the Internet
319
00:16:27,965 --> 00:16:29,793
for any information
I could find on it.
320
00:16:29,896 --> 00:16:31,724
And they even had
a title for it
321
00:16:31,827 --> 00:16:33,827
as "acquired savant syndrome."
322
00:16:33,931 --> 00:16:35,448
And that was all new words
for me because
323
00:16:35,551 --> 00:16:38,137
I thought a savant
was a French pastry.
324
00:16:39,379 --> 00:16:41,241
HO:
Acquired savant syndrome
means that after
325
00:16:41,344 --> 00:16:42,896
some kind of brain injury
or damage,
326
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,034
all of a sudden
this person becomes
327
00:16:45,137 --> 00:16:47,241
really specialized in some area
328
00:16:47,344 --> 00:16:50,068
that they previously
had no skill in.
329
00:16:50,172 --> 00:16:52,724
SCHNEIDER:
Scientists have identified
damage to
330
00:16:52,827 --> 00:16:54,241
a particular area of the brain,
331
00:16:54,344 --> 00:16:58,275
the left anterior temporal lobe,
as being essential
332
00:16:58,379 --> 00:17:02,034
to the creation
of acquired savant syndrome.
333
00:17:02,137 --> 00:17:04,551
The theory is that perhaps,
334
00:17:04,655 --> 00:17:07,103
because the left hemisphere
started to go dark
335
00:17:07,206 --> 00:17:09,758
after this injury, now
the right side could feel free
336
00:17:09,862 --> 00:17:12,241
to express themselves fully,
337
00:17:12,344 --> 00:17:14,275
and they develop
these artistic abilities.
338
00:17:16,206 --> 00:17:18,620
SHATNER:
The remarkable abilities
of people like Derek Amato
339
00:17:18,724 --> 00:17:23,241
suggest that even if we aren't
born a genius,
340
00:17:23,344 --> 00:17:26,137
there is something
in our brains
341
00:17:26,241 --> 00:17:30,034
that could be rewired
to make us one.
342
00:17:30,137 --> 00:17:32,137
It's an exciting notion,
343
00:17:32,241 --> 00:17:34,241
especially if we could
find some way to unlock
344
00:17:34,344 --> 00:17:37,448
our brain's potential
not by accident...
345
00:17:39,413 --> 00:17:43,034
...but whenever and however
we want to.
346
00:17:44,448 --> 00:17:48,137
Suppose we walk into
a mind design center,
347
00:17:48,241 --> 00:17:51,068
and we see a menu before us,
348
00:17:51,172 --> 00:17:54,275
and one item is called
"Human Calculator,"
349
00:17:54,379 --> 00:17:57,896
and another item is called
"Immediate Mozart,"
350
00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,931
another "Immediate Picasso."
351
00:18:02,034 --> 00:18:03,413
How many would you choose?
352
00:18:03,517 --> 00:18:06,793
Will there be trade-offs
if we try to induce
353
00:18:06,896 --> 00:18:09,827
savant behavior
in ordinary people?
354
00:18:09,931 --> 00:18:11,344
We just don't know.
355
00:18:13,275 --> 00:18:15,862
[playing gentle melody]
356
00:18:15,965 --> 00:18:17,965
AMATO:
I believe we all have these.
357
00:18:18,068 --> 00:18:21,068
And it may not be musical gifts
in all of us,
358
00:18:21,172 --> 00:18:23,034
but I think we're
designed gifted.
359
00:18:23,137 --> 00:18:25,172
And I think it's just
a matter of discovery
360
00:18:25,275 --> 00:18:26,448
from there on out.
361
00:18:26,551 --> 00:18:28,413
♪
362
00:18:30,413 --> 00:18:34,517
What began as a horrible
swimming pool accident
363
00:18:34,620 --> 00:18:37,137
somehow transformed
Derek Amato's brain
364
00:18:37,241 --> 00:18:39,275
into that of a musical genius,
365
00:18:39,379 --> 00:18:44,724
and his life into one
of great opportunity.
366
00:18:44,827 --> 00:18:48,000
But what if someone finds out
that the brain they have
367
00:18:48,103 --> 00:18:52,137
is not that of a genius
but of a criminal?
368
00:18:52,241 --> 00:18:55,310
And not only a criminal...
369
00:18:55,413 --> 00:19:00,310
but a brain that matches
that of a serial killer.
370
00:19:04,137 --> 00:19:06,034
SHATNER:
Florida State Prison.
371
00:19:06,137 --> 00:19:08,206
January 21, 1989.
372
00:19:17,137 --> 00:19:19,448
SHATNER:
Days before his execution,
373
00:19:19,551 --> 00:19:21,965
convicted serial killer
Ted Bundy
374
00:19:22,068 --> 00:19:24,896
confesses to the murder
of at least 30 people,
375
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:29,620
ending a crime spree that lasted
for more than a decade.
376
00:19:29,724 --> 00:19:33,068
HICKEY:
We often use Ted Bundy as the
perfect example of a psychopath
377
00:19:33,172 --> 00:19:35,344
because he had
all the attributes.
378
00:19:35,448 --> 00:19:37,896
He was charming.
He was likable.
379
00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,103
He was k-kind of handsome guy.
He was very articulate.
380
00:19:41,206 --> 00:19:45,310
He knew how to ingratiate
himself into people's lives,
381
00:19:45,413 --> 00:19:47,206
and he did all the things
382
00:19:47,310 --> 00:19:49,344
that you expect
a normal person to do,
383
00:19:49,448 --> 00:19:53,241
and yet, every step of the way,
everything he did was about him.
384
00:19:53,344 --> 00:19:56,896
He was a predator. He never
stopped being a predator.
385
00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,103
SHATNER:
But how could an otherwise
386
00:19:59,206 --> 00:20:03,068
clean-cut and successful
young man like Ted Bundy
387
00:20:03,172 --> 00:20:06,724
become a cold-blooded,
psychopathic killer?
388
00:20:06,827 --> 00:20:10,413
Did the circumstances
of his life turn him into one,
389
00:20:10,517 --> 00:20:14,827
or was he literally
born to kill?
390
00:20:14,931 --> 00:20:16,793
HO:
There's been a lot
of studies lately
391
00:20:16,896 --> 00:20:18,896
on the brains of psychopaths.
392
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,517
And some of the most important
findings is that we see that
393
00:20:21,620 --> 00:20:22,827
they have a connectivity problem
394
00:20:22,931 --> 00:20:24,172
with different parts
of their brain.
395
00:20:24,275 --> 00:20:26,965
FALLON:
From the scans that I had seen,
396
00:20:27,068 --> 00:20:28,896
scans of all these
different murderers,
397
00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:30,827
including
psychopathic murderers,
398
00:20:30,931 --> 00:20:32,862
there was the same pattern,
and that same pattern
399
00:20:32,965 --> 00:20:36,034
was a loss of activity
in this area of the brain,
400
00:20:36,137 --> 00:20:38,034
above the eyes,
above the orbits,
401
00:20:38,137 --> 00:20:39,896
so it's called orbital cortex.
402
00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,034
This is the limbic system,
the cortical limbic system,
403
00:20:43,137 --> 00:20:45,137
and this is what's turned off.
404
00:20:45,241 --> 00:20:49,034
When we look at someone
who is a true psychopath,
405
00:20:49,137 --> 00:20:52,241
it's most likely you'll not find
much brain activity
406
00:20:52,344 --> 00:20:54,103
in the limbic system.
407
00:20:54,206 --> 00:20:58,379
And those parts contain areas
of empathy and understanding,
408
00:20:58,482 --> 00:21:00,793
care and concern, conscience.
409
00:21:00,896 --> 00:21:03,620
This seems to line up
with the reports of psychopaths,
410
00:21:03,724 --> 00:21:05,448
you know, doing some
horrific things,
411
00:21:05,551 --> 00:21:06,965
you know,
killing multiple people
412
00:21:07,068 --> 00:21:09,482
and then just getting back up,
going to a movie,
413
00:21:09,586 --> 00:21:11,137
eating McDonald's
within the hour.
414
00:21:11,241 --> 00:21:13,344
They just don't seem
to have their emotions
415
00:21:13,448 --> 00:21:16,862
stimulated the way that
a normal person's brain would.
416
00:21:18,275 --> 00:21:21,344
There have already been studies
about trying to rewire the brain
417
00:21:21,448 --> 00:21:23,793
of psychopaths, in that
we're trying to improve
418
00:21:23,896 --> 00:21:25,793
some of their
connectivity problems.
419
00:21:25,896 --> 00:21:27,896
Because if we see
that there's an issue
420
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:29,655
with two parts of the brain
not communicating well
421
00:21:29,758 --> 00:21:32,724
with each other, maybe we can
send some electrical impulses
422
00:21:32,827 --> 00:21:34,482
through it and see
if we can stimulate them
423
00:21:34,586 --> 00:21:36,551
into more action.
424
00:21:36,655 --> 00:21:40,379
TAYLOR:
If we do a brain scan
on every baby that's born,
425
00:21:40,482 --> 00:21:43,517
and we decide that this one
has the type of brain
426
00:21:43,620 --> 00:21:45,965
that's going to be
a criminal mind,
427
00:21:46,068 --> 00:21:48,000
what do we do with that?
428
00:21:48,103 --> 00:21:53,103
Is that, uh, something that
we have to retrain this child?
429
00:21:53,206 --> 00:21:57,172
Do we keep this child under
protection as they grow up?
430
00:21:57,275 --> 00:22:00,206
How do we respond
to that type of information?
431
00:22:02,413 --> 00:22:05,172
FALLON:
Are we more determined by
genetics or environment?
432
00:22:05,275 --> 00:22:07,827
We had an ongoing
Alzheimer's study
433
00:22:07,931 --> 00:22:10,103
that we were doing
a clinical trial on,
434
00:22:10,206 --> 00:22:12,241
but we didn't have
enough controls.
435
00:22:12,344 --> 00:22:15,206
And so I said,
"Look-it, I'll ask my family."
436
00:22:15,310 --> 00:22:17,379
We'll get them all in,
do PET scans,
437
00:22:17,482 --> 00:22:19,482
and they'll be controls
because in our family,
438
00:22:19,586 --> 00:22:21,103
there is no Alzheimer's.
439
00:22:21,206 --> 00:22:26,137
And so I went through this pile
of these Alzheimer's scans,
440
00:22:26,241 --> 00:22:29,034
and we cover up the names,
'cause I don't like to know
441
00:22:29,137 --> 00:22:30,241
who I'm looking at,
what I'm looking at.
442
00:22:30,344 --> 00:22:31,965
You got to stay
double blind, right?
443
00:22:32,068 --> 00:22:34,758
And each one was normal,
normal, normal.
444
00:22:34,862 --> 00:22:37,068
But I got to the last scan,
445
00:22:37,172 --> 00:22:40,862
and I saw this very obviously
completely psychopathic pattern.
446
00:22:40,965 --> 00:22:42,517
It looked like all these
psychopathic murderers
447
00:22:42,620 --> 00:22:44,103
I'd looked at.
448
00:22:44,206 --> 00:22:46,275
I said to the technician,
"This is very funny.
449
00:22:46,379 --> 00:22:48,724
"You-You've slipped in one
of these psychopathic murderers.
450
00:22:48,827 --> 00:22:50,482
"This is like the worst one
I've seen,
451
00:22:50,586 --> 00:22:53,172
and whoever this is,
we got to notify the police."
452
00:22:53,275 --> 00:22:55,206
And he goes, "This is somebody
who's very dangerous."
453
00:22:55,310 --> 00:22:59,103
So when I pulled off
the name tag on the PET scan,
454
00:22:59,206 --> 00:23:01,448
I looked at it and laughed.
I said, "Guys, look-it,
455
00:23:01,551 --> 00:23:04,034
this can't be right."
It was my name on there.
456
00:23:04,137 --> 00:23:06,758
So it was me that had
the full-blown
457
00:23:06,862 --> 00:23:08,896
psychopathic pattern
in my scans.
458
00:23:10,241 --> 00:23:12,413
Jim Fallon found that
he actually has
459
00:23:12,517 --> 00:23:15,103
sort of this classic
psychopathic brain
460
00:23:15,206 --> 00:23:16,931
from an imaging perspective,
461
00:23:17,034 --> 00:23:20,000
but he's in a long-term
relationship, he has a wife,
462
00:23:20,103 --> 00:23:22,137
and sometimes she has
to remind him to be
463
00:23:22,241 --> 00:23:24,379
more empathetic,
but he's a good citizen.
464
00:23:24,482 --> 00:23:28,551
HICKEY:
I would say that 30% is about
biology and genetics,
465
00:23:28,655 --> 00:23:32,310
and 70% is about nurturing
or the lack of nurturing.
466
00:23:32,413 --> 00:23:38,172
It's like nature loads the gun
and nurturing pulls the trigger.
467
00:23:38,275 --> 00:23:40,965
FALLON:
Charisma is really
a psychopathic trait.
468
00:23:41,068 --> 00:23:43,103
And so growing up,
all through my teens,
469
00:23:43,206 --> 00:23:44,931
high school, I was very popular.
470
00:23:45,034 --> 00:23:46,551
You know, popular
and class clown,
471
00:23:46,655 --> 00:23:49,758
and a ton of friends,
and a ton of female friends,
472
00:23:49,862 --> 00:23:51,413
and really got along
with everybody.
473
00:23:51,517 --> 00:23:53,620
I never thought
anything was wrong,
474
00:23:53,724 --> 00:23:58,068
even though from the time
I was 11, 12 years old onward,
475
00:23:58,172 --> 00:24:00,724
all the time,
some adults would say to me,
476
00:24:00,827 --> 00:24:02,379
"There's something
quite evil about you,"
477
00:24:02,482 --> 00:24:04,482
even though they couldn't
put their finger on it.
478
00:24:06,310 --> 00:24:09,000
SHATNER:
Although, according
to his own research,
479
00:24:09,103 --> 00:24:11,551
James Fallon's brain
is similar to those
480
00:24:11,655 --> 00:24:14,896
possessed by people
with psychopathic tendencies,
481
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,551
he hasn't gone on
to commit murder.
482
00:24:17,655 --> 00:24:19,551
But why not?
483
00:24:19,655 --> 00:24:24,068
Could it be that the urge
to kill requires something more,
484
00:24:24,172 --> 00:24:28,103
something harder to identify
within the human brain?
485
00:24:28,206 --> 00:24:31,172
Perhaps the answer lies
not in studying
486
00:24:31,275 --> 00:24:33,931
the brain's physical attributes
487
00:24:34,034 --> 00:24:37,517
but those
of a less tangible nature.
488
00:24:37,620 --> 00:24:40,172
Maybe it has something
to do with not the biology
489
00:24:40,275 --> 00:24:43,275
of the brain
but with the brain's ability
490
00:24:43,379 --> 00:24:49,275
to send and receive signals
from far outside the human body.
491
00:24:56,517 --> 00:24:59,034
SHATNER:
May 2006.
492
00:24:59,137 --> 00:25:02,068
Steven B. Williams,
a successful radio host
493
00:25:02,172 --> 00:25:05,862
and deejay from Colorado,
has gone missing.
494
00:25:05,965 --> 00:25:09,758
For the next two weeks, police
engage in a massive search.
495
00:25:09,862 --> 00:25:13,689
But despite their efforts,
there's still no trace of him.
496
00:25:13,793 --> 00:25:17,827
Desperate for answers,
a close friend of Williams
497
00:25:17,931 --> 00:25:21,379
decides to enlist the help
of Angela Smith,
498
00:25:21,482 --> 00:25:24,448
a woman with a unique talent:
499
00:25:24,551 --> 00:25:27,586
remote viewing.
500
00:25:29,103 --> 00:25:31,896
He didn't want to give me
any up-front information,
501
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:35,241
because in remote viewing,
often that can contaminate
502
00:25:35,344 --> 00:25:38,586
the viewing and lead
to imagination, et cetera.
503
00:25:38,689 --> 00:25:42,620
The process I use
consists of sitting with
504
00:25:42,724 --> 00:25:44,793
a pack of white paper and a pen,
505
00:25:44,896 --> 00:25:47,482
uh, a couple of letters
and numbers,
506
00:25:47,586 --> 00:25:49,103
and often nothing more.
507
00:25:49,206 --> 00:25:52,862
You go through accessing colors
and shapes
508
00:25:52,965 --> 00:25:55,620
and smells and tastes,
and going in your mind
509
00:25:55,724 --> 00:25:58,862
to the location and perceiving
510
00:25:58,965 --> 00:26:01,379
and bringing back
the information.
511
00:26:03,275 --> 00:26:08,000
I did a session and found water,
brackish water,
512
00:26:08,103 --> 00:26:10,724
a land mass,
an event that happened.
513
00:26:12,896 --> 00:26:15,551
And it seemed that
the individual in question
514
00:26:15,655 --> 00:26:17,827
had been killed,
was in the water,
515
00:26:17,931 --> 00:26:21,275
and a lot of other
surrounding information.
516
00:26:23,931 --> 00:26:25,896
In 2006, I was a commander
517
00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,344
for the Los Angeles
Sheriff's Department,
518
00:26:27,448 --> 00:26:30,517
and I'd been in law enforcement
about 31 years.
519
00:26:30,620 --> 00:26:34,103
It was quite unusual,
to say the least,
520
00:26:34,206 --> 00:26:37,931
that Angela Smith would pick up
a particular homicide
521
00:26:38,034 --> 00:26:42,379
and provide detailed information
and then try to help solve it.
522
00:26:42,482 --> 00:26:47,068
I called the homicide
investigator and just said,
523
00:26:47,172 --> 00:26:50,448
is he working on a case
with an anonymous body
524
00:26:50,551 --> 00:26:52,206
found floating in the ocean?
525
00:26:52,310 --> 00:26:55,344
By the fact that I had
that much information,
526
00:26:55,448 --> 00:26:56,965
I immediately had his interest.
527
00:26:57,068 --> 00:27:00,931
So I says, "I've got
some information on this."
528
00:27:01,034 --> 00:27:03,344
And I said,
"I've got to tell you
529
00:27:03,448 --> 00:27:05,551
that it's gonna sound bizarre."
530
00:27:05,655 --> 00:27:10,379
SHATNER:
Using the information
provided by Angela Smith,
531
00:27:10,482 --> 00:27:13,413
the police were able to identify
a nameless body
532
00:27:13,517 --> 00:27:17,206
that had been found off
the coast of Catalina Island.
533
00:27:17,310 --> 00:27:20,620
It was that
of Steven B. Williams.
534
00:27:20,724 --> 00:27:22,517
But it didn't end there.
535
00:27:22,620 --> 00:27:25,172
Angela provided information
536
00:27:25,275 --> 00:27:30,862
not only about the victim
but also about his killer.
537
00:27:33,827 --> 00:27:36,965
After the body
had been identified,
538
00:27:37,068 --> 00:27:41,275
I did a profile,
like an FBI profiler would do.
539
00:27:41,379 --> 00:27:45,724
And that matched a profile
of an individual
540
00:27:45,827 --> 00:27:48,310
that Williams had been
in contact with
541
00:27:48,413 --> 00:27:53,344
and who had actually swindled
Williams out of some money.
542
00:27:53,448 --> 00:27:55,724
HEAL:
The homicide investigator
called me back
543
00:27:55,827 --> 00:27:57,862
three or four days later
and said,
544
00:27:57,965 --> 00:28:00,034
"Hey, just so you know,
this stuff's legit."
545
00:28:00,137 --> 00:28:03,862
They had a possible suspect,
and they even had a motive,
546
00:28:03,965 --> 00:28:05,862
none of which they were getting
547
00:28:05,965 --> 00:28:07,655
through
the conventional methods.
548
00:28:07,758 --> 00:28:10,275
I thought, "Wow, maybe there
really is something to this."
549
00:28:10,379 --> 00:28:14,689
SHATNER:
Steven B. Williams' killer
was eventually apprehended,
550
00:28:14,793 --> 00:28:18,103
thanks, it seems,
to the incredible abilities
551
00:28:18,206 --> 00:28:19,965
of Angela Smith.
552
00:28:20,068 --> 00:28:22,965
The idea of remote viewing
has been around for a long time.
553
00:28:23,068 --> 00:28:25,034
It-It's been around for
actually thousands of years.
554
00:28:25,137 --> 00:28:29,137
And it's the idea
that you can transmit yourself
555
00:28:29,241 --> 00:28:32,655
out of your body
and go view other places
556
00:28:32,758 --> 00:28:35,310
and-and get information,
and then figure out
557
00:28:35,413 --> 00:28:38,517
what was going on
without ever having to go there.
558
00:28:38,620 --> 00:28:43,344
SMITH:
What science has found so far,
they attach electrodes
559
00:28:43,448 --> 00:28:45,758
to the brain while somebody's
doing remote viewing.
560
00:28:45,862 --> 00:28:48,068
Sometimes you're
accessing information
561
00:28:48,172 --> 00:28:51,206
with the right brain,
reporting it and writing it down
562
00:28:51,310 --> 00:28:53,965
with the left brain,
so there's a dance going on.
563
00:28:54,068 --> 00:28:56,379
It's very much
a whole-brain activity.
564
00:28:56,482 --> 00:29:00,310
SHATNER:
Can remote viewing
really provide visions
565
00:29:00,413 --> 00:29:03,586
of people, places, things,
566
00:29:03,689 --> 00:29:06,068
no matter where they are
on Earth?
567
00:29:06,172 --> 00:29:08,413
The very notion seems absurd.
568
00:29:08,517 --> 00:29:12,551
And yet, there was a time
when some thought
569
00:29:12,655 --> 00:29:16,931
this practice could be used
to win the Cold War.
570
00:29:18,931 --> 00:29:20,689
WHITEHEAD:
The Russians,
during the Cold War,
571
00:29:20,793 --> 00:29:23,586
were investing millions
of dollars in parapsychology,
572
00:29:23,689 --> 00:29:26,103
psychic phenomena,
remote viewing.
573
00:29:26,206 --> 00:29:27,931
And the Americans felt
that they had to keep up
574
00:29:28,034 --> 00:29:30,034
with the Russians,
and so they developed
575
00:29:30,137 --> 00:29:33,413
their own classified program,
and were basically trying
576
00:29:33,517 --> 00:29:36,172
to train psychic spies.
577
00:29:36,275 --> 00:29:39,482
JOE McMONEAGLE:
I was one of the first people
that was recruited
578
00:29:39,586 --> 00:29:41,103
for the remote viewing program,
579
00:29:41,206 --> 00:29:43,793
what's now being referred to
as the Stargate program.
580
00:29:43,896 --> 00:29:46,689
I was recruited
in October of 1978.
581
00:29:46,793 --> 00:29:48,241
[crowd chanting]
582
00:29:48,344 --> 00:29:50,448
WHITEHEAD:
In the late '70s,
there had just been
583
00:29:50,551 --> 00:29:52,172
a revolution in Iran,
584
00:29:52,275 --> 00:29:56,068
and in November of 1979,
a group of students
585
00:29:56,172 --> 00:29:59,655
who were revolutionaries
took over the U.S. embassy
586
00:29:59,758 --> 00:30:02,103
and took dozens
of American hostages.
587
00:30:05,068 --> 00:30:08,241
So, when this
hostage situation unfolded,
588
00:30:08,344 --> 00:30:11,068
U.S. intelligence
had very little information
589
00:30:11,172 --> 00:30:12,793
about how many hostages
they were,
590
00:30:12,896 --> 00:30:15,758
where they were being held,
et cetera.
591
00:30:15,862 --> 00:30:18,862
It was reported later
that there was a team
592
00:30:18,965 --> 00:30:21,000
of remote viewers
that were actually working
593
00:30:21,103 --> 00:30:24,103
out of a secret location in
Maryland just outside of D.C.,
594
00:30:24,206 --> 00:30:26,931
and that they were trying
to find out
595
00:30:27,034 --> 00:30:29,620
what was going on
inside the embassy.
596
00:30:31,931 --> 00:30:36,172
McMONEAGLE:
They said we need to know
who's a hostage in this place
597
00:30:36,275 --> 00:30:38,965
where an embassy was taken over.
598
00:30:39,068 --> 00:30:41,724
Some of the other things
we were asked to do
599
00:30:41,827 --> 00:30:44,068
was describe how
they were being treated,
600
00:30:44,172 --> 00:30:46,724
what they were being fed,
how they were being guarded,
601
00:30:46,827 --> 00:30:48,344
other things like that.
602
00:30:48,448 --> 00:30:52,103
In this case,
we were able to identify
603
00:30:52,206 --> 00:30:54,344
pretty much
most of the hostages.
604
00:30:54,448 --> 00:30:58,206
WHITEHEAD:
They actually based legitimate
intelligence efforts
605
00:30:58,310 --> 00:31:00,379
on the information
that they got
606
00:31:00,482 --> 00:31:02,689
from many of these
psychic remote viewers,
607
00:31:02,793 --> 00:31:04,758
and so we know it works,
608
00:31:04,862 --> 00:31:08,448
but we're still trying to figure
out exactly how it works.
609
00:31:08,551 --> 00:31:12,448
SHATNER:
Espionage typically relies on
high-tech equipment
610
00:31:12,551 --> 00:31:17,034
like satellites,
radio receivers and computers.
611
00:31:17,137 --> 00:31:21,206
But according to those
who practice remote viewing,
612
00:31:21,310 --> 00:31:25,241
this technology is no match
for the greatest computer
613
00:31:25,344 --> 00:31:29,551
in the world: the human brain.
614
00:31:29,655 --> 00:31:35,172
McMONEAGLE:
I've been remote viewing now
for 42, 43 years, constantly.
615
00:31:35,275 --> 00:31:40,275
People ask me, "Well, how do you
get information to come down?"
616
00:31:40,379 --> 00:31:44,965
I go to a place in my mind
where it's very quiet,
617
00:31:45,068 --> 00:31:48,413
and I just open to whatever
information's gonna come.
618
00:31:51,034 --> 00:31:55,103
SMITH:
I believe that everybody has
a natural intuitive ability.
619
00:31:55,206 --> 00:31:57,586
So, remote viewing training
620
00:31:57,689 --> 00:32:00,862
focuses on that natural ability
and enhances it.
621
00:32:00,965 --> 00:32:05,034
What it says about the brain
is that our brains are plastic.
622
00:32:05,137 --> 00:32:08,310
They're able to adapt
and able to learn.
623
00:32:12,068 --> 00:32:14,965
Did Angela Smith's
remarkable mental abilities
624
00:32:15,068 --> 00:32:18,448
really help the police
solve a baffling crime?
625
00:32:18,551 --> 00:32:21,344
There are many associated
with the case
626
00:32:21,448 --> 00:32:24,551
who believe the answer
is a firm yes,
627
00:32:24,655 --> 00:32:27,517
just as there are those
who believe that the contents
628
00:32:27,620 --> 00:32:31,896
of an entire human brain
can actually be uploaded
629
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,275
like data into a computer,
630
00:32:35,379 --> 00:32:40,344
and that, once transferred,
it can not only be stored
631
00:32:40,448 --> 00:32:44,413
but used over and over again...
632
00:32:44,517 --> 00:32:45,862
forever.
633
00:32:50,068 --> 00:32:52,103
SHATNER:
Boston, Massachusetts.
634
00:32:52,206 --> 00:32:53,862
March 2018.
635
00:32:53,965 --> 00:32:58,034
Nectome, a biotechnology
startup company,
636
00:32:58,137 --> 00:33:03,172
announces an audacious
and controversial plan.
637
00:33:03,275 --> 00:33:04,689
- Their vision?
- [monitor beeping steadily]
638
00:33:04,793 --> 00:33:06,310
A groundbreaking technique
639
00:33:06,413 --> 00:33:10,517
that can take the data stored
inside a human brain
640
00:33:10,620 --> 00:33:14,137
and transfer it into a computer.
641
00:33:15,896 --> 00:33:19,413
There are companies like Nectome
that are attempting
642
00:33:19,517 --> 00:33:22,931
to preserve the brain
and the mind.
643
00:33:24,586 --> 00:33:27,137
Our methods
of analyzing the connections
644
00:33:27,241 --> 00:33:30,137
between neurons in the brain
are getting really good.
645
00:33:30,241 --> 00:33:32,620
And so, eventually we'll be able
to model the connections
646
00:33:32,724 --> 00:33:35,275
between all the neurons,
and at that point,
647
00:33:35,379 --> 00:33:37,793
we'll have a better idea as
to whether or not its possible
648
00:33:37,896 --> 00:33:40,068
to upload a brain
into the cloud,
649
00:33:40,172 --> 00:33:43,413
but we'll have to wait
and see what happens.
650
00:33:45,482 --> 00:33:49,413
SCHNEIDER:
Uploading is the process of
basically copying and encoding
651
00:33:49,517 --> 00:33:53,862
someone's mental life
onto a computer.
652
00:33:53,965 --> 00:33:57,758
Advocates of uploading believe
that that would really be a way
653
00:33:57,862 --> 00:34:00,862
for you to survive
the death of your brain.
654
00:34:02,551 --> 00:34:05,655
KAKU:
And now people say,
"Well, if I'm immortal,
655
00:34:05,758 --> 00:34:07,896
"and I'm living my life
inside a computer,
656
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,448
isn't that rather boring?"
657
00:34:10,551 --> 00:34:14,275
No. Because this mainframe
computer will connect
658
00:34:14,379 --> 00:34:18,586
to a mechanical avatar
that is superhuman in every way.
659
00:34:18,689 --> 00:34:20,620
And you will see
through its eyes.
660
00:34:20,724 --> 00:34:22,655
You'll feel
through its sense organs.
661
00:34:22,758 --> 00:34:26,862
So, in other words, we will have
a form of digital immortality.
662
00:34:28,793 --> 00:34:30,896
SHATNER:
Digital immortality.
663
00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,793
The incredible notion
that we might someday
664
00:34:33,896 --> 00:34:36,448
be able to live forever.
665
00:34:38,137 --> 00:34:40,827
But if the information
inside our brains
666
00:34:40,931 --> 00:34:43,034
can be copied and transferred,
667
00:34:43,137 --> 00:34:46,482
like information
onto a computer hard drive,
668
00:34:46,586 --> 00:34:49,827
- does that mean it can keep
and store everything?
- [echoing laughter]
669
00:34:49,931 --> 00:34:53,586
Like our personalities, perhaps?
670
00:34:53,689 --> 00:34:57,000
Or would something
be lost in translation?
671
00:34:57,103 --> 00:34:59,862
There are two issues
to consider here.
672
00:34:59,965 --> 00:35:04,379
First of all, why believe
that a digital copy of you
673
00:35:04,482 --> 00:35:06,344
is capable of being conscious?
674
00:35:06,448 --> 00:35:11,206
The second issue
is that it doesn't at all follow
675
00:35:11,310 --> 00:35:13,206
that that being
would really be you,
676
00:35:13,310 --> 00:35:19,068
that you are the survivor
rather than a digital copy.
677
00:35:19,172 --> 00:35:21,724
Consciousness is one of the most
hard-to-define phenomena
678
00:35:21,827 --> 00:35:23,413
about the human brain,
679
00:35:23,517 --> 00:35:25,758
and it's also what separates us
from all other species.
680
00:35:25,862 --> 00:35:29,172
It's this idea that we have
internal reflection.
681
00:35:29,275 --> 00:35:32,448
Can we actually live on forever
in a computer and still be able
682
00:35:32,551 --> 00:35:34,310
to preserve all our memories,
all our friendships,
683
00:35:34,413 --> 00:35:36,068
all of the different things
that we love?
684
00:35:36,172 --> 00:35:37,724
And I think that
that's a very romantic notion
685
00:35:37,827 --> 00:35:39,482
for a lot of people,
686
00:35:39,586 --> 00:35:42,034
that they want to feel like
there's a way to go on forever.
687
00:35:42,137 --> 00:35:45,379
But you can't separate the brain
from the rest of your body.
688
00:35:47,034 --> 00:35:48,862
TAYLOR:
Consciousness requires a thing
689
00:35:48,965 --> 00:35:51,172
called non-computability.
690
00:35:51,275 --> 00:35:53,758
Non-computability is why
this person likes chocolate
691
00:35:53,862 --> 00:35:56,034
and that person doesn't.
692
00:35:56,137 --> 00:35:59,620
There isn't a mathematical
algorithm that can create that.
693
00:35:59,724 --> 00:36:02,827
DENNIN:
We probably aren't at the point
where we understand well enough
694
00:36:02,931 --> 00:36:04,896
what makes it human
and conscious
695
00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,206
to really recreate that
in the computer.
696
00:36:09,862 --> 00:36:12,310
My guess is
your consciousness in you
697
00:36:12,413 --> 00:36:16,655
is more than just
the composition of your brain.
698
00:36:16,758 --> 00:36:19,103
I think there is a special
combination that makes us human
699
00:36:19,206 --> 00:36:20,793
that at the moment is a secret.
700
00:36:20,896 --> 00:36:22,137
I'm not convinced
science won't be able
701
00:36:22,241 --> 00:36:24,034
to figure it out at some point.
702
00:36:26,068 --> 00:36:28,793
SHATNER:
In this day and age,
we tend to believe
703
00:36:28,896 --> 00:36:30,655
that anything can be
accomplished through
704
00:36:30,758 --> 00:36:32,413
the power of technology.
705
00:36:32,517 --> 00:36:36,034
But in the case of digitizing
the human consciousness,
706
00:36:36,137 --> 00:36:39,034
there seems to be a unique
combination of factors
707
00:36:39,137 --> 00:36:40,931
that can't simply be reduced
708
00:36:41,034 --> 00:36:44,862
- to a series of ones and zeroes.
- [excited chatter]
709
00:36:44,965 --> 00:36:47,206
And according to
many neuroscientists,
710
00:36:47,310 --> 00:36:50,137
the reason we can't transfer
a person's personality
711
00:36:50,241 --> 00:36:53,517
- from inside their head
to a computer
- [laughter]
712
00:36:53,620 --> 00:36:58,827
is because our minds are already
networked to something else,
713
00:36:58,931 --> 00:37:02,172
something outside our bodies.
714
00:37:04,206 --> 00:37:06,965
There's a sense
that you even have as a child
715
00:37:07,068 --> 00:37:09,482
that there's something
beyond us, outside of us.
716
00:37:09,586 --> 00:37:12,724
There's this otherness
involved and this,
717
00:37:12,827 --> 00:37:14,689
perhaps, connection
with the universe.
718
00:37:14,793 --> 00:37:18,241
TAYLOR:
You yourself are a part
of the universe.
719
00:37:18,344 --> 00:37:20,000
I don't mean
you're in the universe.
720
00:37:20,103 --> 00:37:22,275
I mean, you are literally
a piece of this universe,
721
00:37:22,379 --> 00:37:24,344
so you are connected
to everything else,
722
00:37:24,448 --> 00:37:25,793
everywhere else.
723
00:37:25,896 --> 00:37:29,206
When you have thoughts
in your mind,
724
00:37:29,310 --> 00:37:32,413
they are reaching out
and connecting with other things
725
00:37:32,517 --> 00:37:35,758
that are similar to those
thoughts in the universe.
726
00:37:35,862 --> 00:37:39,034
So it's possible that our brains
727
00:37:39,137 --> 00:37:43,448
could be acting like
transceivers to receive that.
728
00:37:43,551 --> 00:37:45,379
WHITEHEAD:
If you think of the way
your smartphone connects
729
00:37:45,482 --> 00:37:47,931
to the Internet
or to a Wi-Fi network,
730
00:37:48,034 --> 00:37:49,965
the human mind
is actually connecting
731
00:37:50,068 --> 00:37:52,103
to a field of information.
732
00:37:52,206 --> 00:37:55,068
There seems to be this ability
that humans have,
733
00:37:55,172 --> 00:37:58,241
somewhere deep down in
the darkest corners of our mind,
734
00:37:58,344 --> 00:38:01,206
to be able to tap into
information fields
735
00:38:01,310 --> 00:38:04,586
that are not readily known
by us.
736
00:38:04,689 --> 00:38:09,379
STUART HAMEROFF:
This means that consciousness
can extend outside the brain.
737
00:38:09,482 --> 00:38:14,275
So when people say, "Is the
brain a generating consciousness
738
00:38:14,379 --> 00:38:16,793
"or is it a receiver
for consciousness
739
00:38:16,896 --> 00:38:20,068
that's present in the universe?"
I think it's a bit of both.
740
00:38:23,344 --> 00:38:27,448
SHATNER:
If our minds can tap into
the very fabric of the universe,
741
00:38:27,551 --> 00:38:29,931
could that help to explain
why the human brain
742
00:38:30,034 --> 00:38:33,103
is still such a mystery?
743
00:38:33,206 --> 00:38:36,965
Is it ultimately
too vast and complex
744
00:38:37,068 --> 00:38:40,586
to figure out
by means of simple biology?
745
00:38:40,689 --> 00:38:44,655
There are those who believe
the answer is yes.
746
00:38:44,758 --> 00:38:47,172
And, if that's the case,
747
00:38:47,275 --> 00:38:50,103
how can we even be sure
that everything we know,
748
00:38:50,206 --> 00:38:53,275
our thoughts, our very memories,
for example,
749
00:38:53,379 --> 00:38:57,758
are safe from being stolen
by outside forces?
750
00:38:57,862 --> 00:38:59,689
[chuckles]
751
00:38:59,793 --> 00:39:03,000
The fact is they're not.
752
00:39:03,103 --> 00:39:04,586
[beeping, static crackling]
753
00:39:08,655 --> 00:39:10,103
SHATNER:
Boston, Massachusetts.
754
00:39:10,206 --> 00:39:11,551
July 2013.
755
00:39:11,655 --> 00:39:14,689
Scientists at Boston University
756
00:39:14,793 --> 00:39:18,517
publish the results
of an extraordinary experiment,
757
00:39:18,620 --> 00:39:23,310
results that call into question
literally everything we know.
758
00:39:25,206 --> 00:39:27,586
RAMIREZ: A few years ago,
we had a series of experiments
759
00:39:27,689 --> 00:39:29,344
where we were able
to create a false memory
760
00:39:29,448 --> 00:39:30,758
in the rodent brain.
761
00:39:30,862 --> 00:39:32,931
We put our rodents
in a safe environment
762
00:39:33,034 --> 00:39:34,965
where they were free
to roam around, and we developed
763
00:39:35,068 --> 00:39:37,586
a set of genetic tricks
where the brain cells
764
00:39:37,689 --> 00:39:40,241
that held onto the memory
of that safe environment
765
00:39:40,344 --> 00:39:42,896
now became responsive
to pulses of light.
766
00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:44,758
[lights buzzing, popping]
767
00:39:44,862 --> 00:39:47,551
So the next day, what we did was
we put the animals
768
00:39:47,655 --> 00:39:49,206
in a completely different environment
769
00:39:49,310 --> 00:39:51,137
and we gave them a couple
of mild foot shocks
770
00:39:51,241 --> 00:39:53,310
in that environment,
in an attempt to startle them.
771
00:39:53,413 --> 00:39:54,896
But they key thing is that
772
00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:56,827
we could shoot light
into the brain
773
00:39:56,931 --> 00:40:00,034
and reactivate the cells
that held onto that safe memory.
774
00:40:00,137 --> 00:40:02,137
So, one of the ways
that we've known
775
00:40:02,241 --> 00:40:04,896
that we've switched the memories
is that the animal
776
00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:06,931
no longer behaviorally looks
like its scared.
777
00:40:07,034 --> 00:40:09,862
And then that at least opened up
the floodgates to this idea
778
00:40:09,965 --> 00:40:12,137
that we can artificially
manipulate memories in general.
779
00:40:12,241 --> 00:40:15,793
We might be able to one day
perform some kind of surgery
780
00:40:15,896 --> 00:40:18,793
or some kind of intervention
in the brain to enhance memories
781
00:40:18,896 --> 00:40:21,379
that we don't want to be lost
as a result of Alzheimer's.
782
00:40:21,482 --> 00:40:23,413
Or suppress memories,
783
00:40:23,517 --> 00:40:26,551
let's say, that we don't want
to be there in cases of PTSD.
784
00:40:26,655 --> 00:40:28,586
Or suppress emotions,
for instance,
785
00:40:28,689 --> 00:40:30,931
in certain cases of anxiety.
786
00:40:31,034 --> 00:40:35,482
Memories are stored, just like
you can put memories on a card
787
00:40:35,586 --> 00:40:37,896
in a video camera
or your cell phone.
788
00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:43,241
And it's possible that you could
manipulate the chemical,
789
00:40:43,344 --> 00:40:45,517
the organic wiring, so to speak,
790
00:40:45,620 --> 00:40:48,241
just like you could
manipulate a memory card
791
00:40:48,344 --> 00:40:50,310
in an electronic device.
792
00:40:50,413 --> 00:40:53,931
You can take one file out
and put another file in.
793
00:40:56,034 --> 00:40:58,586
KAKU:
In the future, we'll be able
to record memories,
794
00:40:58,689 --> 00:41:03,344
play them back
and alter these memories.
795
00:41:03,448 --> 00:41:06,000
And I wouldn't be surprised
that, in the future,
796
00:41:06,103 --> 00:41:08,103
you'll be able to go
to a library
797
00:41:08,206 --> 00:41:12,931
and have that vacation
that you never had.
798
00:41:13,034 --> 00:41:14,620
TAYLOR:
But once we learn
799
00:41:14,724 --> 00:41:18,931
how to add and remove
files from our brains,
800
00:41:19,034 --> 00:41:22,172
if we do not have
some kind of safeguard system,
801
00:41:22,275 --> 00:41:24,793
some kind of firewall
to prevent other people
802
00:41:24,896 --> 00:41:26,724
from doing it
without us letting them,
803
00:41:26,827 --> 00:41:29,379
then trusting our memories
might be a problem.
804
00:41:31,103 --> 00:41:34,724
Implanting new thoughts
into people's minds?
805
00:41:34,827 --> 00:41:37,275
Artificial memories?
806
00:41:37,379 --> 00:41:40,344
The implications are as profound
as they are frightening.
807
00:41:40,448 --> 00:41:44,172
For example, how do you know if
you actually watched this show?
808
00:41:44,275 --> 00:41:45,793
Perhaps someone
simply created a memory
809
00:41:45,896 --> 00:41:48,689
and put it inside your head.
810
00:41:48,793 --> 00:41:50,310
Preposterous?
811
00:41:50,413 --> 00:41:52,689
How would you be able
to tell the difference?
812
00:41:52,793 --> 00:41:54,965
Let's face it, just when
we think we've figured out
813
00:41:55,068 --> 00:41:57,103
everything there is to learn
about the human mind,
814
00:41:57,206 --> 00:41:59,931
we realize how little
we really understand
815
00:42:00,034 --> 00:42:02,137
and how much more
we need to know
816
00:42:02,241 --> 00:42:07,000
before there is nothing left
that is unexplained.
66786
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.