The Neuroscience of Human Relationships

Just as neurons communicate through mutual stimulation, brains strive to connect with one another. In The Neuroscience of Human Relationships, I explore how the brain has evolved into a social organ allowing us to attune, connect, communicate, and coordinate. These fundamental processes allow us to attach to our young, bond with our mates, form extended families, communities, and nations. While the core of the book focuses on attachment, I also explore how we communicate across what I call the social synapse, how we regulate each others’ emotions, and how we form into highly connected and coordinated groups. Included is a discussion of such mechanisms as mirror neurons, the polyvagal system of social engagement, and the attachment circuitry of the basal forebrain.