By: Interview by Andrew Anthony | Sophie Scott: ‘Laughter works as a behaviourally contagious phenomenon’ | Neuroscience | The Guardian
Sophie Scott is a senior fellow at University College London. She is an expert in cognitive neuroscience, particularly in relation to communications. This year, she is giving the Royal Institution Christmas lectures looking at how evolution has shaped our bodies to communicate with each other. She also does standup comedy.
When and how were you asked to do the Royal Institution Christmas lectures?
They asked me back in April this year. I was contacted by somebody from the RI on Twitter and they said: “Can you come in to chat to us about a project?” I thought it was going to be for educational purposes or a podcast. It didn’t cross my mind for a second what it was. It was amazing.
The more a man likes a woman he’s talking to, the more he’ll raise his pitch to match hers
Related: ‘Emojis enhance human interactions’ argues Royal Institution lecturer
