The seemingly never-ending depressing news from Israel and Gaza reveals a simple fact. The Israelis and the terrorists of Hamas do not think in the same way. Calls for a ceasefire and then for talks to take place miss out on one important factor. Neither side is willing to talk. Each of them believes the other should not exist. They are simply not on the same wavelength.

You could say the same thing about politicians and the rest of us. This week the ban on excessive bankers’ bonuses was lifted. Instead of being limited to a bonus of two times their annual salary, there is now no limit. Whoopee…! Those millionaires will be celebrating all weekend. Meanwhile, nurses cannot get a pay rise that copes with inflation. The thinking that bankers need paying more suggests that those who made the decision are not really on the same wavelength as the nurses.

I suspect that you have been in business meetings where a similar thought occurred to you. Someone says something, and you are taken aback as you don’t understand why the individual even thinks that way. It happened to me in a meeting this week when someone suggested a solution to a problem that was the complete opposite to the way I was thinking. It wasn’t just different; it was as though we were talking about completely different things. We were not on the same wavelength.

Being on the same wavelength is a saying that originated from radio – when you tuned into a broadcast you were “on the same wavelength”. However, in the last decade or so, neuroscientists have been turning their attention to human brainwaves, suggesting that people can literally be on the same wavelength.

The notion of our brains aligning during social activity has been an idea in psychology since the late 1960s. But it is only in the past15 years that the technology has been available to investigate what might be going on. Back in 2010, researchers in Paris were able to show by using brain wave analysis that people’s brains became synchronised when performing simple hand movements together. Other researchers have been able to show similar effects. When people engage with each other, their brain wave patterns start to align. Literally, they are on the same wavelength.

This year, new research has been published showing that students can get on the same wavelength as their lecturers. When they do so, they become better at subsequent tests of knowledge. However, what appears to be crucial is “task engagement” according to the study in New York. When there is high task engagement by the students, their brain waves become more in-sync with those of the lecturer. Once they are synchronised, then their test scores of knowledge and understanding are improved.

So, it would seem that when we are on the same wavelength, we understand things better. However, as the latest research shows, to get on the same wavelength you need “high task engagement”. As my old junior school teacher, Mr Geater, would have said, “Sit up straight and pay attention”.

These days we might give it a fancy name such as “active listening”. However, what is clear is that our brains can literally synchronise with the brains of those around us when we pay full attention to what is going on. And when we are on that same brain wavelength, we understand what is happening much better. In a sense, we become inside the head of the other person.

Being on the same wavelength as those around us has inevitable positive impacts. We will understand what they mean better. That could reduce conflicts, but it is also likely to increase efficiency, as we do not have to keep seeking clarity. We already have that, being on the same wavelength.

But to be on that same brain wave pattern, you need to pay full attention to what the other person is saying. In face-to-face meetings, that means making more eye contact and listening attentively to the other person. In online meetings, it will mean watching the screen and not distracting yourself with a quick visit to your email inbox…! Paying full attention to others is not only polite, it now appears it is fundamental to getting on the same wavelength as them – literally. Now all we need to do is to explain that to the people who approve bankers bonuses.