Let’s explore the neuropsychology of connection—the kind of connection we might be sharing right now as I speak to you. Sometimes, we feel an instant connection with someone simply by watching them speak. It doesn’t happen every day, but we’ve all experienced it through TV, social media, or YouTube. Maybe it was a solicitor, a financial advisor, or even a doctor in a video.
What if I told you there’s actual science behind this? It’s all thanks to something called mirror neurons. These special brain cells activate not just when we perform an action, but also when we see someone else perform it. They’re the reason you might wince when you see someone accidentally slam their hand in a door—your brain mirrors the experience as if it were your own.
Mirror neurons allow us to vicariously experience the actions and emotions of others we watch on a screen. When we watch a doctor in a video, our mirror neurons trigger a response in the brain, fostering empathy and understanding.
Now, imagine the power of this for you as a health professional. Once your patients watch you on YouTube—whether you’re sharing knowledge, expressing care, or even just smiling warmly—their mirror neurons are firing. It’s as if their brain is saying, “I already know and trust this person.”
With video content, you can harness this incredible neurological phenomenon to connect with your patients on screen like never before.
– Written by your host Hala Ali
The Visionary with Hala Ali Podcast 