Mind, mindfulness, and the social brain: Psychobiological understandings and implications
Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry October 1, 2018 B. Pradhan, R. Gogineni, Shridhar Sharma
Sociality in primates, including humans, arises from the social brain—a complex relationship between brain size, neural network richness and selectivity, and behavioral complexities from bonded relationships. Neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience show that more extensive neural networks produce more powerful social experiences. Yoga and meditation, ancient and inexpensive practices with broad health benefits, induce neuroplasticity through multiple mechanisms in a dynamic brain model that has replaced the static view. Over the last two decades, scientific advances demonstrate positive effects of yoga and meditation on physical and emotional health, including functional and permanent structural brain changes. This chapter synthesizes psychobiological concomitants and socioclinical implications across positive psychology, spirituality, neuroimaging, neurophysiology, cognitive neuroscience, and neuroimmunoendocrinology to foster multidisciplinary collaborations for integrated management of social brain deficits.