Cannabis, Consciousness and the Imagination - for iPad/Mac/PC: Recent Episodes

The Open University

We know drunk-driving causes death on the roads, but how does taking drugs like cannabis affect your driving skills? This album offers a chance to see how psychologists perform experiments which measure how much cannabis distorts a normal state of consciousness. Tracks 5-8 explore human inventiveness, pointing out that nothing in the world could have been made without the human capacity for imagination. Evolutionary anthropologists use the example of tool-making, showing that humans started to develop this brain capacity 50,000 years ago. Scientists can demonstrate that musicians and artists use an unusual amount of imagination for their creativity; and, lastly, the audio tracks 9-11 look at the complex topic of human consciousness. This material forms part of The Open University course DSE212 Exploring Psychology.

A short introduction to this album.

Transcript -- A short introduction to this album.

Examining the affect of smoking cannabis on driving.

Transcript -- Examining the affect of smoking cannabis on driving.

A look at an experiment that compares physiological and mental affects of cannabis.

Transcript -- A look at an experiment that compares physiological and mental affects of cannabis.

Watching a cannabis smoker drive a car.

Transcript -- Watching a cannabis smoker drive a car.

A discussion of the concept of imagination

Transcript -- A discussion of the concept of imagination

The psychological processes behind your imagination.

Transcript -- The psychological processes behind your imagination.

How artists and scientists think.

Transcript -- How artists and scientists think.

How does the imagination use linking processes?

Transcript -- How does the imagination use linking processes?

Examining the nature of consciousness.

Transcript -- Examining the nature of consciousness.

The difficulties of trying to describe consciousness.

Transcript -- The difficulties of trying to describe consciousness.

Can consciousness ever be described and explained in scientific terms?

Transcript -- Can consciousness ever be described and explained in scientific terms?