Movies have the power to transport, to teach, to envelope, to do so many things to us and for us. But why? Why do people cry at movies they don't think are that good? Why do bigger screens mean bigger emotional responses, as data suggests? Why do people react to pain on screen with pained looks in theaters?
A new book "Flicker: Your Brain on Movies" argues that the brain is just not evolved enough to fully separate what is happening on screen from what we are going through. The power of mirroring and many other psychological quirks all take over when the theater lights go down.
What movies left an indelible mark on you?
Guest:
- Jeffrey Zacks, professor of pyschology and radiology at Washington University in St. Louis.