# Jim Coan – Our Social Baseline

An episode of [Mind & Life](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1504112670), 12 Dec 2024, 1 h 06 min.

Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4wnucyi9uxrihrjw/Jim_Coan_241119_AIR.mp3

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. Full show notes and resources

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