Decades of research have shown that having more numerous and stronger connections predicts better health and well-being, but the shape of your social network matters too. People who are “information brokers” connect people who wouldn’t otherwise know each other.
More broadly, being a good friend, teacher, or manager often requires taking the perspective of others—seeing the world through their eyes and understanding their joys and sorrows. These capacities depend on a social brain network, which is a neural circuit activated when we connect with others. A new series of studies shows that the structure and function of yur social brain network is tied to the structure of your social network.
Understanding the biology of how people connect may also provide practical benefits, for example by identifying new ways to boost students’ curiosity and engagement in school, select people for teams, monitor employee onboarding and fit with corporate culture, and identify and cultivate more effective leaders. It may also help us to develop new ways to reduce loneliness—a major contributor to health problems ranging from heart disease to the current opioid epidemic—and thereby improve health and well-being.
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