Tuesday 22 February 2011

Bigger Brain Size due to Social Networking?

According to the "Social-Brain" theory, portions of the brain increase in size the bigger and more complex the social network around you is.

Specifically the amygdala, the central component of the limbic brain system which is known to be vital to understanding aspects of emotion, memory and social behaviour, is thought to increase in size.
To manage social contacts and aquaintances the brain needs a more capable centre for managing its "data".

Hank Grebe / Pures/tock / SuperStock


An American group of scientists has now found in humans what was before known for other animals. The bigger and more complex the "herd", the larger the volume of the amygdala.
But it is not only the brain that increases in size, other parts of the nervous system, like the optic nerve are known to improve in other animals.

Now the trouble with social networks is the depending on how they are used they can also isolate people, reversing the effect. But if these online communities are used to reinforce contacts the internet can be a great tool for "being social".

If social networks can turn shy people into masters of socialising remains to be seen. Soon MRI scans might show clues.


So. Your opinions on social networks? Helpful for keeping contacts, good for making new ones, or rather the opposite, leading to isolation?

37 comments:

  1. i definetly feel isolated using social networking.

    you see all the good stuff people are posting and it make you feel like your life is worthless.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I believe smaller brain is more like it. Dumbs you down like everything else. More propaganda for you to accept your brainwashing like an obedient human.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think it's nice to have that medium of social interaction, but it detracts from physical communications. I see more people on facebook typing than I do openly conversing, even sitting right next to each other in a computer lab.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sure your brain might be bigger, but the actual thinking material is diminishing

    ReplyDelete
  5. that's an interesting finding if true.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Social networking seems to just be a way for people to make them selves think they are being social without there being any real meaningful social interaction to back it up

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't think it's true for social networking sites beause you don't actually need to remember stuff about your "friends" as you can easily look up stuff about them you don't even need to recognise their face.

    ReplyDelete
  8. my brain was big to begin with :P

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm a little sceptical...but if true it could be cool

    ReplyDelete
  10. i can definitely agree with what 'paranormal explorer' is saying. i'd also like to add that the social networking experience depends on you and what kind of people you're keeping in contact with.

    for instance my gf's fb is over 500 people of highschool friends and randoms, then she complains that all the stuff posted in her newsfeed is bs and then she looks over at my newsfeed (200 friends, mostly creative people from design college and going out to shows) and she said there was much more cooler news and dynamic content for my fb experience.

    it takes some moderation in who you let into your social network

    ReplyDelete
  11. I tried to avoid facebook for years but this can change that.

    ReplyDelete
  12. as an army brat and thus moving around alot, the only way i've been able to reconnect with alot of my childhood friends from places like germany is through facebook

    ReplyDelete
  13. There are definitely similarities between social networking and herd mentality. Think of the thousands of people seeking recognition though "likes" of their statuses.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think leanmeansteen has hit it right on the head.

    In terms of expansion of the mind? It probably does depend on how you use it. I use it to keep in contact with people, or mass spam a group of people to come out etc. Not exactly mentally stimulating stuff.

    It's useful, but it's a convenience, and conveniences rarely require thought

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well, the bigger is not always the better.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well, my experience is that my friends tend to isolate more, but as they are connected through social networking they don't mind.
    This saturday I was hanging out with some friends and at a certain point, five of them were watching something on their smartphones for several minutes. Only two were actually speaking.
    I hope this isn't the future :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interesting to think that our technology is changing the body and mind themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I couldn't live without social networking. My friends are all over the place and it helps me keep track of them and continue to contact them.

    It's amazing to find out that being social actually increases that part of your brain.

    ReplyDelete
  19. IF social means that the only interactions you do are through a computer then I'm proud to be an outcast.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Good read, but i highly doubt that they make you any smarter

    ReplyDelete
  21. very interesting blog, i look forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. That's some interesting stuff right there. MAKE A BIGGER SOCIAL NETWORK!

    ReplyDelete
  23. we are smarter there is no question

    ReplyDelete
  24. Holy shit that's fascinating. I do suppose it makes sense since we are using more and more neurons each day processing these new tidbits of information

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow like we do, due to new friends.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I think Social Networks are a mixed bag. They have many benefits, but also tend to make people more isolated in the sense that they stay at home more instead of hanging out with flesh and bone buddies. Still, I think it's good for them to flourish... maybe in the future they'll get better.

    ReplyDelete
  27. in that case, my brain is huge.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Its called cancer. lol I feel smarter I guess

    ReplyDelete
  29. It makes sense. I mean, more balls in the air to juggle...

    ReplyDelete
  30. This could be considered an on going reversed experiment that was done with monkeys during the Monkey Sphere experiments when by reducing the size of the brain [via lobotomy] monkeys had their Monkey Sphere reduced as well and could socialize with less of their kind.
    Humans could have a perception of 150 people as actual beings [aka 3D people]. I'd like to see this rise to a global consciousness.

    Anyway. Nice read and post more socio-psycho-biological threads.

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  31. To me social networking is just a way to stay in touch with people I dont talk to in my everyday life. I hardly post any status updates but I do love it when you meet a girl you can just add them to your profile and keep in contact! Way easier than asking for a number right away..

    ReplyDelete