The Social Brain By Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey

Description

The Social Brain, In a time when digital networks and worldwide communities are so important, it’s more important than ever to understand the biological roots of our social life. Neuroscientists Tracey Camilleri and Samantha Rockey take readers through the newest research on how our brains evolved to work together, talk to each other, and solve problems as a group. They also explain why these old ways of doing things are still important for dealing with the problems of modern life.

1. The Structure of Connection

Camilleri and Rockey start by drawing a map of the main brain circuits that control social behavior. From the mirror-neuron system, which lights up when we see someone else do something and lets us feel empathy and imitate them, to the theory-of-mind network, which lets us guess what other people want and believe, they reveal how certain parts of the brain work together to turn individual brains into social minds. Clear illustrations and case studies, including babies smiling at caretakers and chimpanzees coordinating hunts, show how these circuits grow, change, and sometimes break down, affecting everything from learning a language to making moral decisions.

2. The “We,” Emotion, and Empathy

Empathy is very important in human culture. Using fMRI experiments and clinical observations of brain-injured patients, the authors explain how the insula and anterior cingulate cortex let us feel visceral emotions when we see someone else happy or sad. They go into the neurochemistry of social bonding, focusing on how oxytocin affects trust and dopamine affects shared reward. They also talk about how social stressors like rejection and loneliness can set off the same neural alarm systems that are engaged in physical pain. The book makes it apparent that our brains are wired for connection as much as for survival by telling real-life stories, such how firemen work together and how hard it is to be alone during lockdowns.

3. From Rumors to Global Movements

Camilleri and Rockey show how social cognition grows from small groups to large groups working together. They look at the cognitive basis of gossip and explain how sharing personal information strengthens relationships and enforces rules. Next, they talk about collective intelligence: how neurological traits that evolved to help people get along with each other, such quick emotional contagion and pattern detection, today drive online mobilization, viral trends, and political movements. Both classic experiments in crowd behavior (like Milgram’s small-world networks) and case studies of social media campaigns show how powerful and dangerous our networked minds can be.

4. The Plastic Brain in a Social Setting

One of the most promising ideas in the book is neuronal plasticity, which is the brain’s ability to change its wiring via experience. Camilleri and Rockey talk about ways to improve social circuits, like compassion-training programs that increase empathy-related activation and immersive language exchanges that improve social working memory. They look at how neurofeedback, group therapy, and mindfulness can help heal the brain after trauma, prejudice, and chronic loneliness. They give people and society a science-based set of tools to use.

5. Planning for a Future with People

The writers talk on practical uses in the last few chapters. What might cities look like if they put neurological health and social interaction first in their design? How can businesses use our social brains to boost creativity and health? What moral duties come with new technology, such brain-computer interfaces, that have a direct effect on how people think and act? Camilleri and Rockey use ideas from architecture, organizational psychology, and AI ethics to suggest rules for making environments physical, digital, and institutional that work well with our social brains.

About the Author

Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey. Richly illustrated with brain scans, behavioral experiments, and compelling human stories, The Social Brain offers more than academic insight it provides a roadmap for cultivating empathy, cooperation, and resilience in an increasingly fragmented world. Whether you’re a student of neuroscience, a leader seeking to build stronger teams, or simply someone curious about the biological roots of your friendships and beliefs, this book will deepen your appreciation for the neural tapestry that unites us all.

Product Details

• Title: The Social Brain: How Neuroscience and Social Psychology Can Transform Business and Society 
• Authors: Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey 
• ISBN-13: 9781847943620 
• Publisher: Kogan Page 
• Published: January 15, 2021 
• Pages: 256 
• Binding: Paperpack