⚡ If you want a big, healthy and young brain - there is a simple solution that can add years to your life.

💬 Neuroscientist Dr Ben Rein explains why social connection, chatting to strangers and seeing your friends is essential for brain health - and can literally make it bigger. He also discusses the brain benefits of pets, the science of empathy and more.

🎧 Stay tuned to find out:

➡ How pets hijack our brain systems in the best possible way

➡︎ How an ‘epidemic of loneliness’ is fueling conditions like dementia and heart disease

➡︎ How online interactions and AI chatbots impact brain chemistry

➡︎  Where empathy comes from and how to get more of it

➡︎ The science of awe and whether free will exists

📕 Chapters

(0:00) Intro

(0:36) Why our brains need friends

(2:15) The neuroscience of empathy

(5:52) Are pets good for brain health?

(10:33) Do animals have empathy too?

(12:05) Are WE good for our pets brains?

(13:36) Why animals love music

(15:28) How ‘super-agers’ keep their brains healthy

(20:01) Do virtual chats also help brain health?

(22:44) How social connection reduces dementia risk

(26:27) What AI chatbots are doing to our brains

(30:33) The science of awe and wonder

(33:07) How to make your life feel longer

(36:44) Empathy and mirror neurons

(40:18) Does free will exist?

(46:22) How to become more empathetic

📱 Connect with me:

TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrKaran 

Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.karanr

📱 Connect with Ben:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.benrein/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/benrein 

Website: https://www.benrein.com/ 

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🔥 For more useful science for your everyday life, grab my best selling book “This Book May Save Your Life”: https://geni.us/DrKaranBook 

🎙️ An OG Podcasts production.