The neuroblog Mind Hacks recommends a BBC documentary called “Brain Story.” The series of six, one-hour episodes was apparently put out in 2000 — but never released on VHS or DVD. Now, however, it’s available (ilegally) on BitTorrent.

While I wouldn’t normally endorse illegal downloading, the BBC hasn’t created any legal way for consumers to obtain the series. (I personally just ordered a probably illegal bootleg off of eBay. I would have greatly preferred to simply order through the BBC or on Amazon. British citizens, perhaps, can feel less guilt, as they already paid for the series through their tax dollars. I’ll consider it reparations for the BBC having not made a third season of “Rome.”)

Anyway, it looks pretty cool, at least in this 9 minute clip on YouTube, which has subtitles in what I’m taking a shot in the dark by guessing is Chinese:

Just watching a couple of neurosurgeons poke a woman’s brain with cattle prods while she tries to count to 10 is worth the price of admission.