The driving force behind the human body—and the reason we are sometimes able to perform seemingly miraculous physical feats—is the brain. This program shows how different parts of the brain can help the body overcome tremendous obstacles and avoid, outrun, or confront horrific dangers. Case studies feature a group of firefighters whose lives were saved because of split-second decision-making; a trapped caver who survived underground for weeks without food; a sleep-deprived balloon pilot who narrowly escaped death on a flight to the North Pole; and more. Exciting 3-D animation illustrates the workings of the brain’s “control” and “want” mechanisms and how these function during times of crisis. A Discovery Channel Production. Part 1 of the series Human Body: Pushing the Limits. (43 minutes)