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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🔗Link to the video: 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