<p>The "social brain" concept likely originated with Robin Dunbar's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_human_intelligence#Social_brain_hypothesis">Social Brain Hypothesis</a>, proposed in 1998.  However, Dunbar was not suggesting that the brain has dedicated "social modules".  Rather, the hypothesis was that the evolutionary driving force behind intelligence (increased brain size and capacity) was social - most prominently the need to track relationships in communities of up to 150 people (henceforth known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number">Dunbar's number</a>).  However, I'll focus my answer on the question as asked.</p>

<p><strong>Plasticity:</strong></p>

<p>If the criteria for "inherently" social requires some "module" of the brain that has no value outside of a social context, then it is difficult to argue that the brain is "inherently" <em>anything</em> because the brain is so plastic (contrast this view with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_nativism">nativism</a>).</p>

<p>For example, say we argue that the brain is "inherently" visual as there is a fairly distinct <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_cortex">visual cortex</a> dedicated to this function.  However, in blind people and others, this area can be co-opted for <a href="http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273%2810%2900763-4?_returnURL=http%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627310007634%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">auditory, tactile, and spatial processing</a>, so there is nothing "inherently" visual about it.  Perhaps we should focus on a "lower level" part of the visual processing system, such as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_geniculate_nucleus">LGN</a>, that really is only ever used for visual processing.</p>

<p><strong>Language:</strong></p>

<p>It is difficult (though not impossible) to imagine evolutionary value for language and speech production outside a social context, and this function does appear to have domain-specific modularity in the brain.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/iVYh3.jpg">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/iVYh3.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>For example, Broca's area is considered the "motor speech cortex", and appears to be dedicated to speech production.  But like most areas of the brain, the boundaries of this region are not well defined, and on closer inspection, neither is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broca%27s_area#Functions">its function</a> - although just about all functions attributed to Broca's area are social.  While language processing has for a long time been associated with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broca%27s_area">Broca's</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernicke%27s_area">Wernicke's</a> areas on the left side of the brain, language processing can spread out as far as <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17109238">the right hemisphere</a>, and <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13554790902729473">some individuals</a> with lesions in these regions can retain largely unaffected language capabilities.</p>

<p><strong>Relating:</strong></p>

<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusiform_face_area">FFA</a>, in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusiform_gyrus">fusiform gyrus</a>, is another potentially social part of the brain, critical for face recognition - a lesion in this region leads to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia">prosopagnosia</a> (face blindness).  This function is distinct from the system for recognizing inanimate objects, such that other <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_agnosia">visual agnosias</a> may not affect facial recognition ability.  This function is already <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_perception#Development">developed in infancy</a>, and is a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1857737/#sec8">strong candidate for domain-specificity</a>.  However, once again, this region of the brain may have other functions, and facial recognition can be subsumed (although less efficiently) by other regions.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DMNqd.gif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fusiform face area<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DMNqd.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Both <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum">autism and Asperger's</a> provide another hint at the social nature of the human brain.  Though their etiology is not well understood, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_autism">it is considered biological</a>, suggesting a disruption of some inherent social mechanism of the brain.  However, since ASD <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome#Characteristics">affects other cognitive functions</a> as well, it is again not clear that a distinctly social element of the brain is involved.</p>

<p><strong>Learning:</strong></p>

<p>Both <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2889690/">social reward</a> and <a href="http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/21/1/42.abstract">social pain</a> have been shown to largely recycle the non-social reward and punishment systems, suggesting that there may be nothing inherent in the brain to support learning by social motivation.  However, as pointed out in the question, Theory-of-Mind capabilities may have <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind#Brain_mechanisms">some modular support</a> in the brain, though no domain-specific mechanisms have been implicated.</p>

<p>Noam Chomsky <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbal_Behavior#Chomsky.27s_review">famously argued</a> that language acquisition in humans <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_of_the_stimulus">happens far too quickly</a> to be accounted for by simple learning - that is, our brain must be <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_acquisition_device">somehow predisposed for language acquisition</a>.  How this happens is still not well understood, but the same logic is applicable to many other aspects of our social capabilities: We are simply too well honed at social functions such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_acquisition_device">language</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_human_intelligence#Social_brain_hypothesis">relationships</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_cognitive_theory">modelling</a>, and other social behaviours to be accounted for by learning / culture alone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-04T09:35:35.890Z
Wow, you did not only answer the question, you gave an entire introductory course on psychology, neuroscience and perhaps even some philosophy (while remaining in topic too)! Chapeaux, well done and +1.
Robin Kramer-ten Have
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-04T10:34:44.877Z
+1, especially for that awesome animated gif brain ;-)
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-03T23:20:25.670Z
2016-09-03T23:20:25.670Z
Arnon Weinberg
<p>The concept of the "social brain" is thrown around a lot, but it's not entirely clear to me what it means.</p>

<p>To me, it could mean a few different things:</p>

<ol>
<li><strong>Modularity</strong>: We have some sort of modular, hardwired network that supports social behavior and cognition </li>
<li><strong>Domain-General Processes</strong>: The benefits of human sociality through evolution have promoted certain psychological processes that are useful for human interaction, but these processes are not specific to sociality (i.e., they're domain-general)</li>
<li><strong>Domain-General and Specific</strong>:  Somewhere in the middle of (1) and (2).</li>
<li><strong>Prepared Learning</strong>: Akin to (2), we are not born "social," but we are born with a set of more basic tools that prepare us to learn to be social</li>
</ol>

<p>I have superficial familiarity with the area of social cognition and the brain structures (TPJ, DMN, mirror neurons) and chemicals that support it (oxytocin).  Based on these literatures, my assumption is that social cognition is supported by domain-general processes that have been co-opted for social use--but we don't have "social" modules or chemicals.</p>

<p>Any thoughts? :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-16T09:22:28.390Z
I'm not sure "any thoughts?" counts as a question on here! I agree that the "social brain" is not always a clear concept, but then you'd have to start by defining "social" and whether you consider that a "domain".
splint
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-16T22:05:19.160Z
@splint  My question is in the title :P
mrt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T08:23:13.470Z
As you say, there is brain and behavioural evidence that we have dedicated mechanisms for responding to other people in socially-relevant ways, and these seem to be present even in young infants. So if that's what you mean by "inherent" and "social", the answer is yes.
splint
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-17T17:01:19.617Z
@splint  But are those mechanisms actually "dedicated" or do they perform more domain-general functions that happen to be useful for social interaction?
mrt
<social-psychology><cognitive-neuroscience><social-cognition>
Is the brain inherently social?
mrt
# Is the brain inherently social?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-15)

The concept of the "social brain" is thrown around a lot, but it's not entirely clear to me what it means.

To me, it could mean a few different things:

1. **Modularity**: We have some sort of modular, hardwired network that supports social behavior and cognition
2. **Domain-General Processes**: The benefits of human sociality through evolution have promoted certain psychological processes that are useful for human interaction, but these processes are not specific to sociality (i.e., they're domain-general)
3. **Domain-General and Specific**: Somewhere in the middle of (1) and (2).
4. **Prepared Learning**: Akin to (2), we are not born "social," but we are born with a set of more basic tools that prepare us to learn to be social

I have superficial familiarity with the area of social cognition and the brain structures (TPJ, DMN, mirror neurons) and chemicals that support it (oxytocin). Based on these literatures, my assumption is that social cognition is supported by domain-general processes that have been co-opted for social use--but we don't have "social" modules or chemicals.

Any thoughts? :)

**Tags:** social-psychology, cognitive-neuroscience, social-cognition

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm not sure "any thoughts?" counts as a question on here! I agree that the "social brain" is not always a clear concept, but then you'd have to start by defining "social" and whether you consider that a "domain".  
> **username_0**: @username_1  My question is in the title :P  
> **username_1**: As you say, there is brain and behavioural evidence that we have dedicated mechanisms for responding to other people in socially-relevant ways, and these seem to be present even in young infants. So if that's what you mean by "inherent" and "social", the answer is yes.  
> **username_0**: @username_1  But are those mechanisms actually "dedicated" or do they perform more domain-general functions that happen to be useful for social interaction?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-03. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The "social brain" concept likely originated with Robin Dunbar's [Social Brain Hypothesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_human_intelligence#Social_brain_hypothesis), proposed in 1998. However, Dunbar was not suggesting that the brain has dedicated "social modules". Rather, the hypothesis was that the evolutionary driving force behind intelligence (increased brain size and capacity) was social - most prominently the need to track relationships in communities of up to 150 people (henceforth known as [Dunbar's number](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number)). However, I'll focus my answer on the question as asked.

**Plasticity:**

If the criteria for "inherently" social requires some "module" of the brain that has no value outside of a social context, then it is difficult to argue that the brain is "inherently" *anything* because the brain is so plastic (contrast this view with [nativism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_nativism)).

For example, say we argue that the brain is "inherently" visual as there is a fairly distinct [visual cortex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_cortex) dedicated to this function. However, in blind people and others, this area can be co-opted for [auditory, tactile, and spatial processing](http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273%2810%2900763-4?_returnURL=http%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627310007634%3Fshowall%3Dtrue), so there is nothing "inherently" visual about it. Perhaps we should focus on a "lower level" part of the visual processing system, such as the [LGN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_geniculate_nucleus), that really is only ever used for visual processing.

**Language:**

It is difficult (though not impossible) to imagine evolutionary value for language and speech production outside a social context, and this function does appear to have domain-specific modularity in the brain.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/iVYh3.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/iVYh3.jpg)

For example, Broca's area is considered the "motor speech cortex", and appears to be dedicated to speech production. But like most areas of the brain, the boundaries of this region are not well defined, and on closer inspection, neither is [its function](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broca%27s_area#Functions) - although just about all functions attributed to Broca's area are social. While language processing has for a long time been associated with [Broca's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broca%27s_area) and [Wernicke's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernicke%27s_area) areas on the left side of the brain, language processing can spread out as far as [the right hemisphere](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17109238), and [some individuals](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13554790902729473) with lesions in these regions can retain largely unaffected language capabilities.

**Relating:**

The [FFA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusiform_face_area), in the [fusiform gyrus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusiform_gyrus), is another potentially social part of the brain, critical for face recognition - a lesion in this region leads to [prosopagnosia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia) (face blindness). This function is distinct from the system for recognizing inanimate objects, such that other [visual agnosias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_agnosia) may not affect facial recognition ability. This function is already [developed in infancy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_perception#Development), and is a [strong candidate for domain-specificity](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1857737/#sec8). However, once again, this region of the brain may have other functions, and facial recognition can be subsumed (although less efficiently) by other regions.

[Fusiform face area  
                                                                 ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/DMNqd.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/DMNqd.gif)

Both [autism and Asperger's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum) provide another hint at the social nature of the human brain. Though their etiology is not well understood, [it is considered biological](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_autism), suggesting a disruption of some inherent social mechanism of the brain. However, since ASD [affects other cognitive functions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome#Characteristics) as well, it is again not clear that a distinctly social element of the brain is involved.

**Learning:**

Both [social reward](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2889690/) and [social pain](http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/21/1/42.abstract) have been shown to largely recycle the non-social reward and punishment systems, suggesting that there may be nothing inherent in the brain to support learning by social motivation. However, as pointed out in the question, Theory-of-Mind capabilities may have [some modular support](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind#Brain_mechanisms) in the brain, though no domain-specific mechanisms have been implicated.

Noam Chomsky [famously argued](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbal_Behavior#Chomsky.27s_review) that language acquisition in humans [happens far too quickly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_of_the_stimulus) to be accounted for by simple learning - that is, our brain must be [somehow predisposed for language acquisition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_acquisition_device). How this happens is still not well understood, but the same logic is applicable to many other aspects of our social capabilities: We are simply too well honed at social functions such as [language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_acquisition_device), [relationships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_human_intelligence#Social_brain_hypothesis), [modelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_cognitive_theory), and other social behaviours to be accounted for by learning / culture alone.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Wow, you did not only answer the question, you gave an entire introductory course on psychology, neuroscience and perhaps even some philosophy (while remaining in topic too)! Chapeaux, well done and +1.  
> **username_4**: +1, especially for that awesome animated gif brain ;-)  

---

