Research

Improved Emotional Regulation
Eye contact can engage the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotional responses. Oxytocin reduced amygdala activation – the brain’s fear-response center to threat cues. It lowers emotional arousal and perceived threats.

Brainwave Synchronization
Studies using EEG show that brainwaves can sync between people engaged in mutual gaze, especially during shared emotional or meaningful exchanges.

Faster Wound Healing
Social connection accelerates wound healing by reducing stress and enhancing immune and hormonal factors. These effects are measurable across both human and clinical studies and animal models.

Promotes new heart muscle cell formation
Oxytocin, a biochemical factor in social connection, can activate stem-like epicardial progenitors and promote new heart muscle formation.

Promising cancer treatment
Showing promise for treatment of some cancers – breast, uterine & prostate

Osca Ybarra found across two separate studies that talking to strangers can lead to gains in cognitive functioning.
*Mental Exercising Through Simple Socializing (Ybarra et al., 2008)

Alfred Adler (famous psychotherapist who influenced many other famous psychotherapists) said, “The individual who is not interested in their fellow man,  has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others.”

The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest running studies on happiness and its predecessor, the Harvard Grant Study concluded that the single best protector of happiness is the quality of social relationships.

Bruce Alexander from SFU, during the 70s, found that rats kept in isolation would drink heroin until dead. Rats in a rat park (other rats to play with + toys) didn’t want the heroin. Addicted rats stopped drinking the heroin when moved to a rat park. 

There is a strong body of research showing that direct eye contact, especially when combined with a sense of connection, increases empathy, trust and bonding. They concluded that eye contact primes the brain for empathic engagement.

Schulze, L., et al. (2013) in NeuroImage, 77, 287-294, found that eye contact increases activation in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain area involved in understanding others’ thoughts and empathy.

Keri & Benedek (2009) found that eye contact in socially meaningful contexts boost oxytocin, which is linked to trust and bonding.

Increased Meaning, Motivation and Hope
Connection gives people a sense of purpose, accountability and emotional safety – all of which are protective against depression.

A large-scale meta analysis found that social engagement is strongly associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Harvard Health reports that social ties stimulate attention, memory, and neural networks. Isolation is linked to a 40% higher dementia risk and faster cognitive decline.

40% Lower crime
One standard deviation increase in collective efficacy (a combination of social cohesion and willingness to intervene) was associated with a 40% reduction in violent crime. Sampson, Robert J., Raudenbush, Stephen W., & Earls, Felton (1997). Neighbourhoods and Violent Crime: A Multilevel Study of Collective Efficacy; Science, Vol.277 No. 5328, pp.918-924.

Loneliness is lethal.
Two of the G7 countries have established federal ministers for loneliness because it is killing people in epidemic proportions.

Social Connection Reduces Pain
There is strong evidence, drawn from experimental studies, meta-analyses, and neuroscience research that social connection and support can significantly reduce both physical and emotional pain