Huberman Lab

Dr. Kay Tye: The Biology of Social Interactions and Emotions

Feb 5, 2024

02:31:05

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Dr. Kay Tye, PhD, discusses the neural circuit basis of social interactions and loneliness. Topics include social media's impact on our sense of social connectedness, the neuroscience of mental health, and interpersonal dynamics. They also talk about the amygdala's role in emotional processing, the importance of gut health, the value of feedback, the negative consequences of social isolation, and the impact of social media on social interactions and perception.

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Quick takeaways

Loneliness has significant health consequences and can be managed through understanding social homeostasis and fostering healthier social interactions.

The amygdala plays a diverse role in emotional processing, not limited to fear, and influences behaviors based on positive or negative valence.

Social media may not fulfill our need for meaningful and synchronous social connection, and excessive usage can lead to specific types of social isolation.

Social interaction is a core biological need that impacts physical and mental health, and understanding its biological underpinnings can improve overall well-being.

Creating dynamic social experiences while protecting alone time fosters social flexibility, comfort, and reduces feelings of crisis.

Deep dives

The Impact of Loneliness on Social Interactions

Loneliness has significant health consequences, including shortened lifespan, increased mood disorders, and higher morbidity and mortality for diseases like cancer and heart disease. Social isolation and perceived loneliness have a detrimental effect on overall well-being. The brain processes loneliness through specific neurons called 'loneliness neurons,' which are involved in detecting the absence of social contact. The activation of these neurons can lead to various responses, including seeking social interaction and displaying territorial or aggressive behavior. Different strategies, such as understanding the dynamics of social homeostasis, can help manage loneliness and foster healthier social interactions.

Abundance vs Scarcity Mindset

02:37

The Role of the Amygdala in Assessing Novel Environments

01:43

The Importance of Context and Investment in Social Interactions

01:40

Social Homeostasis and Responses to Social Isolation

01:05

Introduction

5min

Sponsors and Introduction

3min

The Complexity of the Amygdala in Emotional Processing

27min

The Importance of Gut Health and Controlling Social Media Inputs

5min

The Value of Feedback and Constructive Criticism

3min

The Effects of Social Isolation

25min

Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Social Interactions and Homeostasis

5min

The Impact of Social Interactions and Emotions on Perception

14min

Observing Animal-like Behavior in Humans

23min

10.

Exploring Social Hierarchies and Power Dynamics in the Work Environment

16min

11.

Diversifying Happiness and Finding Balance

22min

12.

Biology of Social Interactions and Emotions: Thanking the Listeners and Mentioning Sponsors

2min

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Kay Tye, PhD, Professor of Systems Neurobiology at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. We discuss the neural circuit basis of social interactions and loneliness. We also discuss how animals and people establish themselves in a group hierarchy by rank and how the brain responds to dominance and subordination.

Much of our discussion relates to how social media impacts our sense of social connectedness or lack thereof. The topics covered in this episode are directly relevant to anyone interested in the neuroscience of mental health, work-life balance, abundance versus scarcity mindset, and interpersonal dynamics.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman

Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/huberman

Levels: https://levels.link/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/huberman

Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Kay Tye

(00:02:39) Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Levels & LMNT

(00:06:40) Amygdala; “Valence”

(00:12:43) Novelty; Reward & Punishment Response

(00:20:06) Amygdala & Hunger; Social Interaction

(00:26:21) Social Media & Social Connection; Tool: Email & Time Management

(00:35:03) Sponsor: AG1

(00:36:30) Social Media; Friction & Feedback, Leadership

(00:43:44) Social Isolation, Harlow Experiments, “Loneliness Neurons”

(00:51:47) Social Homeostasis, COVID-19 Pandemic & Loneliness

(01:01:29) Quality of Social Contact, Social Homeostasis, Social Media

(01:08:40) Sponsor: InsideTracker

(01:09:42) Social Media, Relationships; Social Isolation & Exclusion

(01:18:26) Empathy: Friend vs. Foe

(01:28:40) Background & Empathy, Diversity, Emotional Regulation

(01:34:34) Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset

(01:37:22) Social Rank & Hierarchy, Sibling Order, Development

(01:45:54) Dynamic Hierarchy; Dominants vs. Subordinates; Mentors

(01:55:32) Psychedelics: Research & Mechanisms; Psilocybin

(02:06:28) Work-Life Balance, Fitness & Extracurriculars

(02:11:56) Personal Life, Diversity, Happiness; Typical Day

(02:15:42) Science & Academia; Future Directions

(02:23:48) Research & Science Outreach

(02:28:48) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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Huberman Lab

Dr. Kay Tye: The Biology of Social Interactions and Emotions

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Impact of Loneliness on Social Interactions

The Complexity of the Amygdala

The Effects of Social Media and Social Interaction

The Significance and Value of Social Interaction

Exploring the Plasticity of Social Flexibility

The Role of Experiential Statistics in Social Rank

Predicting Social Interactions through Neural Activity

Psychedelics, Plasticity, and Hallucinations

Exploring the Hidden States and Behaviors in the Brain

Balancing Work-Life and Prioritizing Personal Growth

Abundance vs Scarcity Mindset

The Role of the Amygdala in Assessing Novel Environments

The Importance of Context and Investment in Social Interactions

Social Homeostasis and Responses to Social Isolation

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

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Huberman Lab

Dr. Kay Tye: The Biology of Social Interactions and Emotions

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Impact of Loneliness on Social Interactions

The Complexity of the Amygdala

The Effects of Social Media and Social Interaction

The Significance and Value of Social Interaction

Exploring the Plasticity of Social Flexibility

The Role of Experiential Statistics in Social Rank

Predicting Social Interactions through Neural Activity

Psychedelics, Plasticity, and Hallucinations

Exploring the Hidden States and Behaviors in the Brain

Balancing Work-Life and Prioritizing Personal Growth

Abundance vs Scarcity Mindset

The Role of the Amygdala in Assessing Novel Environments

The Importance of Context and Investment in Social Interactions

Social Homeostasis and Responses to Social Isolation

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

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