Dr. Laurie Santos

Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, the reason why social connection matters so much is it's building off this basic neural circuitry, right, for seeing faces and so on. I think that gives us a real insight into the kinds of social connections that work best, right, which has been characterized in the field as sort of in real time social connection, right, which we're kind of moving away from.

Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, the reason why social connection matters so much is it's building off this basic neural circuitry, right, for seeing faces and so on. I think that gives us a real insight into the kinds of social connections that work best, right, which has been characterized in the field as sort of in real time social connection, right, which we're kind of moving away from.

So what do I mean by in real time? You know, you and I are sitting in a studio right now chatting and we're kind of chatting in real time. I can see your face. We're live. But we might have been able to do this like over some sort of video chat. Wouldn't be as good, you know, but it's pretty good. And the reason it seems to be pretty good is we're doing it in real time, right?

So what do I mean by in real time? You know, you and I are sitting in a studio right now chatting and we're kind of chatting in real time. I can see your face. We're live. But we might have been able to do this like over some sort of video chat. Wouldn't be as good, you know, but it's pretty good. And the reason it seems to be pretty good is we're doing it in real time, right?

So what do I mean by in real time? You know, you and I are sitting in a studio right now chatting and we're kind of chatting in real time. I can see your face. We're live. But we might have been able to do this like over some sort of video chat. Wouldn't be as good, you know, but it's pretty good. And the reason it seems to be pretty good is we're doing it in real time, right?

Our auditory system, our visual system, all these systems that are used to as primates processing things with other folks around you, it works reasonably well. What doesn't work so well is how we often communicate, which is like over Slack, over text. I text you, vroom, a few minutes later, vroom, it comes back.

Our auditory system, our visual system, all these systems that are used to as primates processing things with other folks around you, it works reasonably well. What doesn't work so well is how we often communicate, which is like over Slack, over text. I text you, vroom, a few minutes later, vroom, it comes back.

Our auditory system, our visual system, all these systems that are used to as primates processing things with other folks around you, it works reasonably well. What doesn't work so well is how we often communicate, which is like over Slack, over text. I text you, vroom, a few minutes later, vroom, it comes back.

Like our primate brain is just like – that's just not the way communication is set to work. And so I think sometimes when I bring up social connection, people think like, oh, I got to see people in person and my friend is going to live far away and I'm like at work all day.

Like our primate brain is just like – that's just not the way communication is set to work. And so I think sometimes when I bring up social connection, people think like, oh, I got to see people in person and my friend is going to live far away and I'm like at work all day.

Like our primate brain is just like – that's just not the way communication is set to work. And so I think sometimes when I bring up social connection, people think like, oh, I got to see people in person and my friend is going to live far away and I'm like at work all day.

It's like, no, no, no, you can connect not necessarily live and in person, but as much as possible, try to do it in real time. And I think that's in part, and if possible, try to do it with video, I think, for the reason that you were just talking about, is faces activate us. But, you know, we're primates that are also really good at language and paying attention to the voice.

It's like, no, no, no, you can connect not necessarily live and in person, but as much as possible, try to do it in real time. And I think that's in part, and if possible, try to do it with video, I think, for the reason that you were just talking about, is faces activate us. But, you know, we're primates that are also really good at language and paying attention to the voice.

It's like, no, no, no, you can connect not necessarily live and in person, but as much as possible, try to do it in real time. And I think that's in part, and if possible, try to do it with video, I think, for the reason that you were just talking about, is faces activate us. But, you know, we're primates that are also really good at language and paying attention to the voice.

I think it's one of the reasons that like an old school phone conversation, no video chat with your friend can be some of the most emotional, connective conversation, sometimes better than Because when we're a person, we're pulling out our phones and checking and paying attention to other stuff. But we've got to get back towards in real time.

I think it's one of the reasons that like an old school phone conversation, no video chat with your friend can be some of the most emotional, connective conversation, sometimes better than Because when we're a person, we're pulling out our phones and checking and paying attention to other stuff. But we've got to get back towards in real time.

I think it's one of the reasons that like an old school phone conversation, no video chat with your friend can be some of the most emotional, connective conversation, sometimes better than Because when we're a person, we're pulling out our phones and checking and paying attention to other stuff. But we've got to get back towards in real time.

The other stuff just doesn't have the same psychological oomph.

The other stuff just doesn't have the same psychological oomph.

The other stuff just doesn't have the same psychological oomph.