Main content

Memory

An author, a photographer and a neuroscientist-turned-philosopher tell Bridget Kendall about the role that memories play in their work.

Exploring the mysterious realm of memory, Bridget Kendall discusses with her three guests how and why memories are formed, and what impact they have.

Dorothy Bohm is one of Britain's most important documentary photographers of the twentieth century. Now aged 88, she sees her photos as a way of capturing time and holding it.

So what is memory? Raymond Tallis is a professor of geriatric medicine and a former researcher in clinical neuroscience, who now writes about science from a philosophical point of view. He says that memory is a profoundly mysterious experience and it is impossible to give a neurological account of how memories are formed.

The Russian-born writer and broadcaster Zinovy Zinik contributes some memories of his own, including his experience of unravelling his family history, which formed the backbone of his most recent book, "History Thieves".

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sat 25 Aug 2012 11:00

Broadcast

  • Sat 25 Aug 2012 11:00