BRAIN WAVES
Mic check. We might be a little biased, but audio quality matters. And a new study backs this up. Researchers at Yale looked at how audio quality during video meetings affects others’ perceptions of us. They found that when speech sounded “tinny,” which the researchers described as “a thin, metallic sound,” the people on the other end of the call found the speaker to be less intelligent, less credible — even less date-able. “This is both fascinating and concerning,” said senior author Brian Scholl, “especially when the sound of your voice is determined not just by your vocal anatomy, but also by the technology you’re using.”
Friendly. We know friendships are important. And a new study suggests they might be even more important than we think. In a longitudinal study of relationships over time, Junwen Hu at the University of Michigan looked at how both friendships and romantic relationships affect people’s well-being. Hu found that while friendships were associated with fewer depressive symptoms, the same could not be said for romantic relationships. Over time, romantic involvement was associated with more depressive symptoms. This isn’t to say romantic relationships aren’t important, but it’s a good reminder that our friendships are, too.
Talk it out. Do you ever struggle to communicate with a family member? Or feel like you and your spouse speak different languages? How do our conversational styles cause unintended conflicts, and what we can do to communicate more effectively? Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
The Moments that Change Us: Often in life, we find ourselves wrestling with a decision. But in running these mental calculations, there’s something we rarely consider about the future: we might not be the same person when we get there. This week, philosopher Laurie Paul explores how life-altering events reshape who we are, and offers psychological tools for bouncing back.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Terry Hill’s Story: In 1968, when Terry was four, she and her two young siblings were left briefly in the car by themselves. Her one-year-old brother accidentally hit the gearshift, and the car began to roll downhill, toward oncoming traffic. Then a young man rushed over.
Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
HIDDEN BRAIN+
Does your local grocery store offer free samples? It can be a fun way to try a food you might not have otherwise discovered. Same principle goes for our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. It’s the place where our biggest fans can find new episodes of the show that aren’t available anywhere else — and you can give it a try for free for seven days! Here’s a sneak peak of what’s coming up for Hidden Brain+ listeners:
March 31: Relationships 2.0: Recovering the Human Touch: In our modern era of AI and automation, is authentic human connection becoming something of a luxury good? We talk with sociologist Allison Pugh about how new technologies disrupt human interaction, but also how they can be used to help us feel seen and heard.
April 7th: Relationships 2.0: Win-Win: Many of us see negotiations as a zero-sum game, with clear winners and losers. In this episode for subscribers to Hidden Brain+, Max Bazerman explores a different way to negotiate, one that tries to leave both parties better off.
You can join Hidden Brain+ here.
MIND GAMES
What five-letter word typed in all capital letters can be read the same upside down?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
What common mathematical symbol can you place between the numerals 4 and 5 which results in a number greater than four but less than six?
Answer: A decimal point.
A MOMENT OF JOY
Speaking of friendships, here’s a breakdown.
Have an idea for Hidden Brain? A story you want to share with us? Send an email to ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Listen to us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.