On 4 December 2020, The Centre for Human Brain Health and Institute for Mental Health led a workshop featuring talks from Dr Federica Meconi, University of Birmingham; Professor Jeroen Vaes, University of Trento, and Dr Laura Crucianelli, Karolinska Institutet.

These international experts led a series of workshops discussing how we build bridges between the self and the other. Delegates were invited to discover the ability at the basis of social interactions – empathy – and how it varies: from physical features to shared past experiences. They heard about our ability to read others’ mind and how denial of a mind changes the way in which we interact with somebody that we perceive as something. Discussion then focused on the central role of interpersonal affective touch in social interactions in health and disease and how touch is involved in the maintenance of the psychological well-being.

In a society of continuous global exchange the study of social interactions has become critical. Neuroscience has made big steps in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying attitudes and behaviour in social interactions. These mechanisms are most relevant in contexts of help such as health or social services for the well-being of the person.

The workshop addressed academic audience in neuroscience, social and clinical psychology research as well as professionals of the health and social services in the attempt to exchange knowledge from these different but complementary perspectives.