Have you ever felt like you and your spouse were out-of-sync? On the wrong page? Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a way to sync your brains, especially those areas of the brain that involve perspective taking, understanding other people’s intentions and emotions, and overall interaction? After all, syncing those brain areas with the same brain areas in your spouse may contribute to greater understanding and better communication, a better marriage overall.

Well…I have good news. Researchers at the University College in London assessed a simple procedure that led to increased synchronization between people who were familiar with one another (like you and your spouse). The procedure included two parts. Each part was effective in and of itself, but together they proved even more effective. The first part of the procedure involved having a simple conversation with your spouse. Just having an enjoyable conversation about the day, activities, fun things you enjoyed, or future plans led to a greater “syncing” of the two people’s brains. So, enjoy conversation with your spouse and get in-sync.

The second part of the “syncing procedure” involved watching a movie or show together. In this study the participants watched a simple children’s cartoon together. You can choose a show you both might find more enjoyable. Either way, simply watching the show together helped people get their brains “in-sync.”

Simple, right? A conversation and watching a show together. Both enjoyable, right? And the result: syncing your brain with your spouse’s brain, specifically those brain areas involved in greater understanding and communication. Isn’t that amazing? A simple conversation and enjoying a show together can lead to greater understanding of one another’s intentions and emotions as well as an improved ability to interpret one another’s perspectives. So, why not plan a simple date tonight? Enjoy a nice conversation as you eat dinner, drink a cup of latte, or take a walk along the river. Then, watch a movie or show you both enjoy. Cherish the time together and enjoy the results of your simple brain sync.