Toward a Social Brain

Abstract

This article provides a broad overview of what has been learned about the “social brain” from human neuroimaging research (primarily from functional magnetic resonance imaging). Social processes are thought to arise from interactions between several functionally specialized, yet interrelated, and sometimes overlapping neural networks. One way of conceptualizing different social processes is the extent to which they are primarily cognitive (or “rational”) or affective (i.e., “emotional”). According to this distinction, social cognitive processes include, but are not limited to, theory of mind, self-referential processes and moral reasoning, while social affective processes include emotion recognition, empathy, and social emotions such as guilt and shame. In this article, we describe the neural correlates of these internal social processes, drawing on findings from neuroimaging research. The development of the social brain, and disruptions of the social brain in mental and developmental disorders are also briefly explored. Finally, we outline possible directions for future research that may advance our understanding of the social brain.