There is no real independent self, aloof from other human beings, inspecting the world, inspecting other people. You are, in fact, connected not just via Facebook and Internet, you’re actually quite literally connected by your neurons.

Ramachandran is pushing back against the intuitive picture of the mind as a sealed-off observer—an “independent self” standing apart from the world and from other people. From a neuroscientific perspective, the self is constructed by brain systems that are inherently social: perception, emotion, and action are shaped by constant feedback from other minds and bodies. The reference to Facebook/Internet contrasts superficial, technological “connection” with deeper biological interdependence—our nervous systems are tuned to read, predict, and resonate with others (e.g., through empathy, imitation, and shared attention). The quote’s significance lies in reframing individuality as an emergent, relational phenomenon rather than a solitary essence.