Talking heads

We are social animals and talking is a defining part of what makes us human. Chatting with friends or debating the future, we move through life in a state of near-constant dialogue, bridging the gap between our inner and outer worlds. But what purposes does conversation serve? In this revelatory tour of the science of talking, neuroscientist Shane O’Mara explores how and why we communicate, what is happening in our brains when we do it, and what it means for us as individuals, groups and societies.