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

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Kay Tye, Ph.D., 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.Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlabTimestamps00:00:00 Dr. Kay Tye 00:02:56 Sponsors: 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 00:31:21 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 01:09:42 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 NewsletterDisclaimer & DisclosuresLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.
Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017.
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets.
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

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• Latest episode: 2025-07-14
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