Among the most interesting aspects of this field are the anchoring of the gaze, the synchronisation of breathing and its relationship with empathy, which are key to understanding the deep connections we establish.
Neuroscience is studying in depth the question of gaze anchoring as one of the most powerful elements in our interactions. When we share a significant moment with someone, our gazes tend to synchronise, especially when the conversation involves deep emotions. This eye contact helps activate areas of the brain linked to empathy and mutual understanding, almost as if the brain is trying to mirror what the other person is feeling. For example, if we are listening to a sad story and we maintain eye contact with the teller, we may experience something similar to that sadness, as the brain processes the gaze as a signal of emotional connection. This ‘anchoring’ is more than just a habit; it is a non-verbal means that facilitates understanding and allows us to respond more closely and authentically.
Following this, we find the synchronisation of breathing is another way in which our bodies reflect this emotional connection. Without realising it, when we share time and emotions with someone, our breathing patterns can align, creating a kind of physical attunement that reinforces the emotional connection. This phenomenon occurs naturally and has to do with our nervous system, which responds to signals of empathy and closeness. At times when emotions are intense – such as when we are enjoying a conversation or comforting someone – this breathing synchronisation intensifies our connection and creates a sense of oneness and of being ‘on the same wavelength’ as the other person.
These two synchronisations, of gaze and breath, strengthen our capacity for empathy; something that science has recently begun to study. Through these bodily reflections, our mirror neurons, which are responsible for internally imitating what we see and feel in others, are activated. This process allows us to feel what the other is experiencing, almost as if we were experiencing it ourselves. So when someone laughs, smiles, or looks sad in front of us, our mirror neurons trigger a similar emotional response, helping us to better understand that person’s emotions. This kind of empathy not only strengthens our bonds, but also prompts us to act according to the other person’s needs: it brings us closer to comfort, to accompany or to celebrate with more authenticity.
Thanks to social neuroscience, we now know that empathy is not just a matter of words or of wanting to help. In reality, there are physical, automatic and non-verbal signals – such as the anchoring of the gaze and the synchronisation of breathing – that are fundamental to establishing relationships of trust and closeness. These bodily reactions align us emotionally with the other person, enabling us to better understand their feelings and respond more sensitively. Together, these mechanisms are the invisible underpinning of our connections, allowing us to feel understood and supported without needing to speak. Thus, the study of social neuroscience shows us how the biological basis of empathy strengthens our sense of community and helps us form deep and meaningful bonds.
Nazareth Castellanos and the power of the brain
Nazareth Castellanos is a leading neuroscientist and communicator in the study of neuroscience and its relationship with the body. With a solid academic background and an extensive trajectory in research, Castellanos has specialised in how the brain and the organism interconnect and influence each other, and how this impacts the way we interact socially. And this is precisely why she has become the new protagonist of Mejor Conectados, an initiative of Telefónica. Castellanos explores topics such as empathy, non-verbal communication and physiological reciprocity, offering an in-depth look at the role neuroscience plays in our ability to connect with others.
For Castellanos, social neuroscience is fundamental to understanding the non-verbal and biological aspects of communication. He stresses that body posture, eye contact and synchronised breathing are key elements in building deep and authentic relationships. Open and relaxed posture, for example, conveys trust, while a prolonged gaze generates emotional and even physiological synchronisation between people, which strengthens empathy and mutual understanding. It also highlights physiological reciprocity, an alignment of body rhythms (such as pulse and breathing) that arises from emotional connection and facilitates communication.
It invites us to consider the power of conscious breathing, which helps to reduce stress and allows for greater openness towards the other, creating an atmosphere of trust and closeness. For Castellanos, self-knowledge through the body and social neuroscience is the basis for improving empathy and connection with others, a vision she has shared extensively in her interventions as a science communicator and which seeks to inspire others to cultivate an authentic connection with themselves and with others.
