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Sleep - Hysteria

Claudia Hammond finds out how a good night's sleep can improve memory, why hysteria is not a thing of the past, and she meets the carers getting involved in mental health research.

How can a good night's sleep improve your memory? Why does the answer to a crossword clue suddenly appear first thing in the morning after a night's rest? In this week's programme Claudia Hammond talks to psychologist, Kimberly Fenn about what happens in the brain when we sleep and why it can significantly improve our memory.

Hysteria or conversion disorder is surprisingly, not confined to medical history. Nearly 1 in 5 patients seen by neurologists will have symptoms like paralysis, fits or loss of vision which can't be explained neurologically. Claudia talks to neurologist, Mark Edwards and psychiatrist, Richard Kanaan about the history of conversion disorder, how common it is today, the best way to treat it and its complex causes. Also in the programme, Claudia meets the carers getting involved in mental health research and why their input is making a a difference to research projects exploring mental health across the country.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 26 Oct 2011 16:30

Chapters

  • How physical symptoms like paralysis, fits or sudden loss of vision can be psychological

    Neurologist, Mark Edwards and psychiatrist, Richard Kanaan discuss how physical symptoms like paralysis, fits or loss of vision can have a psychological explanation

    Duration: 11:46

  • Sleep memory: Why you can learn and improve your memory while you sleep

    How can a good night's sleep improve your memory Claudia talks to psychologist, Kimberly Fenn about what happens in the brain when we sleep and why it can significantly improve what we learn

    Duration: 09:18

  • Why carers are getting involved in mental health research

    Claudia meets the carers getting involved in mental health research and why their input is making a difference to psychology and psychiatry research across the country

    Duration: 06:10

Broadcasts

  • Tue 25 Oct 2011 21:00
  • Wed 26 Oct 2011 16:30

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