Brain research is putting a fresh spin on how social interaction at work impacts performance, motivation, innovation and morale. It is now known, for example, that physical pain and social pain produce similar brain responses. Workers who feel betrayed or unrecognized at work experience an emotion as powerful and painful as a physical blow. When employees feel threatened at work (by a reprimand, a pay cut, or a poor assignment) it can trigger a powerful neural response and can alter their commitment and engagement to their work. An article in in the autumn issue of strategy + business—“Managing with the Brain in Mind” by David Rock—explains the challenges that neural reactions present to managers and offers suggestions for avoiding trigging the threat response in employees.