17. Wired to connect: can social networks help us unlock brain skills?

Understanding how we make decisions and what this means for our social interactions is invaluable in fractured societies. Neuroscience has recently offered fresh insights on what drives joy and engagement and where chemistry between people comes from. This allows us to conceptualise “brain skills”, which are focused on our cognitive, emotional and social capabilities.  In this episode of NeuroCentury, Paweł Świeboda talks to Prof. Michael Platt, Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and Professor of Marketing, Psychology, and Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael works on applying insights and technology from brain science to business and performance. He is the author of the book “The Leader’s Brain” on enhancing leadership skills and building stronger teams. He has also served as the President of the Society for Neuroeconomics.  The conversation explores Michael Platt’s work on the synchrony matrix, which is based on the realization that in certain situations brain activity becomes synchronized. Michael argues that with more synchrony in the group, one arrives at better decisions. Every conversation we have is part of our brain gym, daily routine which does good to our brain and our societies.   neurocentury.com Music for the NeuroCentury podcast is composed by Rafał Kulczycki