|
|
Mystery of the Senses—Touch
|
|
|
|
Program Overview
|
|
|
Why do some people crave chocolate? Why does music make some people
cry at the movies? How did kissing begin? Mystery of the Senses, a
five-part NOVA special airing over four consecutive nights, seeks
answers to these and other questions as it explores the complexities
of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and vision. In this exploration,
series host and naturalist Diane Ackerman travels around the world
to investigate the science, history, and cultural values that
influence our senses.
Note: This program contains adult subject matter,
particularly in sections near the beginning and the end of the
broadcast. We advise you to preview the program and select the most
appropriate sections for your students to watch.
Touch contributes dramatically to our feeling of well-being. In this
episode, Ackerman explores how touching and being touched promotes
physical and psychological growth in young monkeys and humans. She
also explores human responses to touch in massage, relationships,
and art; and cultural perspectives on touch in social taboos,
hugging, and kissing. To explain our biological responses, series
host and naturalist Diane Ackerman introduces a scientist who has
identified how the brain's sensory map operates. His research has
led to the groundbreaking discovery that even if a person loses a
limb, the brain will respond as if that limb is being touched.
|
|
