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2Is talking really essential for our brains?
We check with family, colleagues, and strangers almost without noticing, but as our lives become more digital, we can now go hours, sometimes even days, without having a proper conversation, and that may matter more than we think.
Do we really talk less than we used to?
Apparently, yes. A 2026 study published in perspective on psychological science suggests that the amount we talk has fallen significantly. Psychologists analyze data from 1000s of people in several countries between 2005 and 2019.
Participants wore devices that randomly recorded snippets of their conversations. Their findings suggest that the average number of words spoken each day fell from around 16,600 to fewer than 12,000, a drop of almost 30%.
But why are we talking less?
The researchers point to several possible explanations. We spend more time alone than we used to, a trend that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many everyday interactions have been replaced by digital alternatives. Instead of calling a restaurant, we book a table online. Rather than speaking to a shop assistant we order from an app. Even small encounters with strangers or acquaintances are increasingly easy to avoid.
Does talking less actually affect our brains?
It can. Conversation is a surprisingly demanding activity for the brain. When we talk to someone face to face, we draw on memory and attention while simultaneously interpreting facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice.
And there is another important element. Empathy. Psychologist Sherry Tuckle argues that face-to-face conversation allows us to experience other people's emotion in a much more immediate physical way.
So is talking good for our mental health?
Research suggests it is. Talking about our emotions with an attentive listener can reduce stress and emotional distress, while social interaction itself can trigger the release of chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, all linked to well-being.
According to neuroscientists Ben Reine, our brains have evolved to reward social connection. For most of human history, living in groups was essential to survival, so it makes sense that our brains learn to associate social contact with positive experiences. There you have it.
词汇表
check with 与…商量，向…核实，与…交谈
snippet [ˈsnɪpɪt] n. 片段，小段
shop assistant 店员，售货员
encounter [ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)] n. 相遇，遭遇，邂逅
acquaintance [əˈkweɪntəns] n. 熟人，泛泛之交，相识的人
demanding [dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ] adj. 要求高的，费力的
simultaneously [ˌsɪməlˈteɪniəsli] adv. 同时地
empathy [ˈempəθi] n. 共情，同理心
attentive [əˈtentɪv] adj. 专注的，留意的，注意听的
oxytocin [ˌɒksɪˈtəʊsɪn] n. 催产素
dopamine [ˈdəʊpəmiːn] n. 多巴胺
serotonin [ˌserəˈtəʊnɪn] n. 血清素
neuroscientist [ˈnjʊərəʊˌsaɪəntɪst] n. 神经科学家
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