Neuroscience and Beyond
We are young researchers at the forefront of neuroscience in Göttingen, Germany, driven by a passion for discovery and communication. In our monthly conversations, we go beyond publications to discuss the real stories with leading experts: their revolutionary work, their personal paths, the struggles they've overcome, and the big questions driving the field forward.
Our mission is built on a simple, powerful idea: knowledge is the only resource that grows when shared. Through open dialogue, we aim to build a bridge between cutting-edge research and the curious minds eager to understand it.
Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences, the European Neuroscience Institute in Göttingen, the Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging" in Göttingen and SFB1286 Quantitative Synaptology in Göttingen.
This podcast reflects our personal views and is separate from our affiliated institutions.
Neuroscience and Beyond
Neuroscience of Social Interactions: Friendship & Theory of Mind | Raymundo Báez-Mendoza, Ph.D.
In Episode 28 of Neuroscience and Beyond, we explore the neural basis of social behavior with Raymundo Báez-Mendoza Ph.D., #neuroscientist and group leader at the German Primate Centre. From understanding trust and cooperation to decoding fear and social distance, Báez-Mendoza’s work reveals how the #brain makes sense of our most fundamental social experiences.
Bridging research in humans and non-human primates, his lab uses game theory, structured behavioral tasks, and neural recordings to investigate the #cognitive and emotional processes that shape how we interact with others.
In this episode, we cover:
- How scientists model real-life social decisions in the lab
- The role of the amygdala in both fear and friendship
- How memory, reputation, and authority influence behavior
- What are Social Agent Identity Cells, and why do they matter?
- Insights from neural recordings during brain surgery
- and more!
🎧 Curious how the brain navigates trust, memory, and connection? Watch the full episode on YouTube to explore how neuroscience is helping us understand social interaction at its most fundamental level.
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🔗Find us on X, Instagram, BlueSky, Spotify and other platforms https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond
🔗Link to the video: https://youtu.be/AFb4pQJC9zo
#SocialNeuroscience #GameTheory #Amygdala #PrimateResearch #Neuroeconomics #CognitiveNeuroscience #TheoryOfMind #NeurosciencePodcast #BehavouralNeuroscience
Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286
Timestamps
00:00:00 – Introduction & Báez-Mendoza’s Research
00:04:32 – From Mexico to Harvard: Comparing Research Cultures
00:09:40 – Social Interactions & Game Theory in Humans and Monkeys
00:15:56 – Training Monkeys for Social Decision-Making Tasks
00:22:25 – Recording Brain Activity in Monkeys
00:24:57 – Brain Regions Involved in Social Interaction
00:30:14 – Fear and Friendship: Amygdala’s Dual Role
00:33:34 – Memory and Social Decision-Making
00:38:10 – Theory of Mind in Monkeys
00:44:32 – What Are Social Agent Identity Cells?
00:49:10 – Human Brain Recordings During Surgery
00:54:11 – Role of Reputation and Authority in Decision-Making
01:00:12 – Sex Differences in Social Behavior & Research Constraints
Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Mels Akhmetali
Laura van Agen