Sec 1 (SN purpose, Hyperscan, mirror neuron, Brain region)

What is Social Neuroscience?

An attempt on explaining and understanding behaviors, feelings, and thoughts as well as their influence on individuals through neurobiological mechanisms

Goals of Social Neuroscience

• To utilize multiple analyses to understand social behavior

• Understand the relationship between nervous system and social behaviors

• To study how nervous system changes during social behavior

What is Hyperscanning?

Recording 2 brains simultaneously and observing the interaction

Modularity

Certain brain regions are specialized to process certain information

• ex, one part of my brain recognizes visual information

Domain Specificity

Brain region that specializes in ONE TYPE OF information in a specific process

• ex, the part of your brain that processes FACES in visual information

• specific in specific info

Mirror Neuron

Neurons that activate BOTH when you perform an action or see someone perform that action

• These neurons are well suited for social interactions because they show understanding of emotions and empathy

Critiques of Social Neuroscience and Solution

• Critique: Reductionist Approach, reducing complex behaviors into simpler parts losing the importance of the concept

• Solution: Combining questionnaires with neural data

  • Reverse inference: If amygdala is activated→ there is fear. DOESN’T ALWAYS APPLY BC theres so many other factors

• Different Levels of Analysis: Connecting molecular level (genetics)—> cellular/neural levels —> behavioral/social levels (social interactions)

What Determines Social Behavior?

BOTH Gene and Environment influences behavior

How do we know what determines social behavior?

Through many studies!

• Gene Association Studies(failed)

• Behavioral Genetics Studies

  • Twin Studies

  • Adoption Studies

  • Heritability Studies

• GxE studies

• Endophenotype Studies

• Behavioral Epigenetics Studies

• Developmental Programming of Behavior