A neuroscientist and medical doctor, Dr Tara Swart, has unveiled a unique and highly effective 'life hack' designed to significantly strengthen emotional connections in conversation. Dr Swart, known for her expertise in the brain and mind-body connection—detailed in her books, including The Science of the Brain—shared insight during an appearance on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast.

The core of her technique centres on the often-underestimated power of intentional eye contact. She suggests that when talking to someone, especially in settings like a first date, where building rapport is crucial, one should specifically focus on looking into the person’s left eye.

According to Dr Swart, this targeted visual contact is "the statistically most likely one to create good resonance" and can effectively boost the brain’s natural bonding response. She claims it can lead to a stronger and more immediate emotional connection with the person you're speaking to.

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The scientific reasoning behind this 'left eye trick' is deeply embedded in our earliest moments of human development. Dr Swart explained that this bonding mechanism originates with the interactions between a mother and her newborn baby.

She said that a baby’s primary method for learning about emotions and establishing security is through eye contact with the mother. The physical orientation during these moments is key. Since the vast majority of people are right-handed, they habitually hold their babies in their left arm.

This practice frees up their dominant hand for necessary tasks. As a result of this common cradling position, when the parent gazes down at their child, their right eye naturally aligns with and meets the baby’s left eye.

She said: "So, most people are right handed so they'll be holding their baby in their left arm so they can use their dominant hand to do stuff. So when you gaze at your baby, your right eye is looking at their left eye, and then as that interaction from the optic nerve is going around the brain, it's impacting the amygdala where emotions come from.

"It's creating this emotional resonance loop. It's part of how the mother and baby bond so that right eye to left eye contact is the most bonding eye contact you can have with someone." She added: "If I'm trying to build a bond with someone that's the statistically most likely one to create good resonance between you."

This specific optical alignment is critical to the development of emotional processing. The resulting interaction travels from the optic nerve and circulates throughout the brain, directly influencing the amygdala, the fundamental brain region that governs the processing of emotions.

Through repeated interaction, this pathway forms what Dr Swart calls an 'emotional resonance loop,' which is integral to the process of mother-baby bonding. This established link means that “right eye to left eye contact is the most bonding eye contact you can have with someone,” a powerful tool that continues to influence emotional connection throughout adulthood.

Beyond specific eye focus, Dr Swart emphasised the importance of overall body language in cultivating trust and friendship. She highlighted that physical expressions of warmth and welcome, such as handshakes, hugs, and kisses on the cheek, can be highly effective.

These physical actions work to subconsciously lower a person’s psychological "guard". For instance, Dr Swart recalled that before her interview with Steven Bartlett began, sharing a hug and a few initial jokes with him successfully helped reduce his inhibitions and initiate bonding.

Ultimately, whether the goal is personal intimacy or professional rapport, Dr Swart’s advice suggests that a conscious effort to use specific eye contact and warm, physical greetings can tap into primal, neuroscientific pathways to accelerate connection and trust.

In an Instagram post about the eye contact 'hack', the expert said: "Why right-to-left eye contact creates stronger bonds. The way we make eye contact can actually deepen our connections.

"Specifically right to left eye contact can play a key role in building stronger emotional bonds with others. While more research is needed, some of the potential mechanisms behind this could be. So next time you’re in a conversation, be mindful of your gaze — it might just be the key to forming a deeper connection."