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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions
Published on: July 6, 2011
Amygdala volume and social network size in humans
Kevin C Bickart1, Christopher I Wright, Rebecca J Dautoff
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Nature Neuroscience
|December 28, 2010
Summary
The amygdala, a brain region, is linked to the size and complexity of human social networks. This suggests the amygdala plays a key role in social behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Neuroscience
- Human Behavior
Background:
- The neural underpinnings of complex social behavior in humans are not fully understood.
- Previous research has implicated various brain regions in social cognition, but specific structural correlates remain an active area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the volume of subcortical brain structures and the size and complexity of social networks in adult humans.
- To explore associations between social network variables and cortical thickness in other brain areas.
Main Methods:
- Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure brain volumes and cortical thickness.
- Social network analysis was employed to quantify the size and complexity of participants' social networks.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between amygdala volume and both the size and complexity of social networks.
- Exploratory analyses revealed associations between social network variables and cortical thickness in three cortical regions.
- Two of these cortical regions showed connectivity with the amygdala.
Conclusions:
- Amygdala volume is a significant correlate of social network characteristics in adult humans.
- These findings highlight the amygdala's crucial role in mediating complex social behavior.
- The interplay between the amygdala and specific cortical areas may further elucidate the neural basis of sociality.
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