Are We Really In Charge?

We make thousands of decisions every day - from what to wear to when to start cooking dinner. But are we truly in charge of those choices, or are hidden processes quietly pulling the strings?

That’s the question from CrowdScience listener Mohammed. He once found himself standing in his kitchen holding a glass of water, with no memory of deciding to get it. Had his body taken charge without him noticing?

Presenter Caroline Steel begins with a famous experiment that shook our understanding of free will. By measuring electrical activity in the brain, neuroscientists have tried to pinpoint the moment a decision is made. Does the brain act before the conscious mind has made a choice?

Caroline also investigates Mohammed’s prime suspect: the trillions of microbes living in our guts. Could these tiny organisms influence how we feel and even how we behave?

Finally, with a stethoscope strapped to her stomach, Caroline puts her ability to sense her body’s internal signals to the test. Could learning to listen more closely to our bodies help us take back control?