Your Brain on Social Distancing: How to Optimize Psychology Moving Forward

In a year where socializing was replaced by social distancing, “Zooming” became a thing, and a simple hug was fraught with danger. How did our brains truly adjust? What worked to our benefit — or our detriment? Eye-opening data gleaned from the pandemic will be presented, with a focus on the melding of newly minted neuroscience with established psychological facts.

We'll be discussing time perception, Zoom exhaustion, depression and anxiety, stress management, problematic habits and budding addictions such as “click-bait,” and evolved romantic relationships. Learn how to apply relevant psychology from both the pandemic and social distancing to improve your own life moving forward.

Dr. Nancy Lee '78 is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Beverly Hills, and a leading practitioner of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Known for her "engaging approach, incisive insights and unique blend of clinical and scholarly expertise (which) continue to render her not only a favorite among patients and readers, but a rising, inspiring sought-after speaker as well," she has been interviewed by the Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, Oprah magazine, Bustle, KNBC and KTLA, to name a few. Dr. Lee received her doctorate at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas — Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

The session will be recorded and posted on the UCLA Alumni YouTube channel at a later date.