Mind & Life

Jim Coan – Our Social Baseline

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In this episode, Wendy speaks with psychologist and affective neuroscientist Jim Coan. Jim is a leading researcher on how social connection impacts our minds, brains, and bodies, and he's also pushing the boundaries of impactful science communication. This conversation covers many topics, including:

  • studying relationships and emotions in the brain;
  • how a confusing research finding changed his career;
  • how holding hands impacts our bodies and minds;
  • understanding energy regulation and prediction;
  • social baseline theory;
  • the prefrontal cortex and self-regulation;
  • implications for the default mode network;
  • social support as energetic resources for the body;
  • effects of hand holding on pain processing;
  • introversion and social support;
  • the two things all his students must memorize;
  • the costs and benefits of social interactions;
  • implications for loss of relationship;
  • sense of self, belonging, and the importance of supporting others;
  • communicating science through comics;
  • and surviving—even flourishing—through climate change.

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    Mind & LifeBy Mind & Life Institute
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