International Journal of Psychological Research ISSN: 2011-2084 [email protected] Universidad de San Buenaventura Colombia Cacioppo, John T.; Cacioppo, Stephanie; Cole, Steven W. Social Neuroscience and Social Genomics: The Emergence of Multi-Level Integrative Analyses International Journal of Psychological Research, vol. 6, 2013, pp. 1-6 Universidad de San Buenaventura Medellín, Colombia Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=299029205001 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Social Neuroscience and Social Genomics: The Emergence of Multi-Level Integrative Analyses Neurociencia Social y Genómica Social: El Surgimiento del Análisis Interdisciplinario Multinivel E d i t o r i a l John T. Cacioppoa,* , Stephanie Cacioppob , Steven W. Colec a Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5848 S. University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, United States. b High Performance Electrical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States c Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology–Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States. ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received: 09-04-2013 ABSTRACT Revised: 13-05-2013 Accepted: 20-05-2013 Social neuroscience emerged more than 20 years ago and has grown into a mature interdisciplinary scientific field. Research now provides compelling Key Words: evidence that the structure and function of the nervous system are influenced by Social the social environment. Recent work in social genomics further underscores the neuroscience, importance of the social environment by demonstrating the influence of the social isolation, social environment on gene expression. The multi-level, interdisciplinary approach and the integration of animal models and human research in social loneliness, social neuroscience have proven synergistic and promise continued advances in the genomics delineation of the social brain across species and generations. RESUMEN La neurociencia social emergió hace más de 20 años y se ha ido convirtiendo en un campo científico interdisciplinario maduro. Ahora las investigaciones Palabras Clave: proveen evidencia convincente de que la estructura y función del sistema Neurociencia nervioso está influenciadas por el entorno social. Trabajo reciente en genómica social, aislamiento social enfatiza más a fondo la importancia del entorno social al demostrar la influencia de este en la expresión génica. El enfoque interdisciplinario multinivel social, soledad, y la integración de modelos animales e investigación humana en neurociencia genómica social social han probado sinergia y prometen avances constantes en la delineación del cerebro social a lo largo de las generaciones y especies. *Corresponding author. John T. Cacioppo, Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5848 S. University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. [email protected] (773.702.1962) | ISSN printed 2011-2084 | ISSN electronic 2011-2079 | 1 E D I T O R I A L INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH Social Neuroscience and Social Genomics From colonies, swarms, flocks, pods, herds, schools, with two short alleles (SS) are more likely than and huddles, social species by definition form children with either a combination of alleles (SL) or structures that extend beyond the individual. These two long alleles (LL) to react negatively to the superorganismal structures evolved hand in hand experience of being bullied (Sugden et al., 2010). with behavioral, neural, hormonal, cellular, and These genotypes are not equally distributed genetic mechanisms because of their importance in worldwide, however. Almost half of the population in helping individual members to survive and the United States, Australia, and Great Britain has reproduce. As social neuroscience has matured, it the S allele, whereas more than three quarters of the has become evident that the nervous system cannot population in China (about 80%) has the S allele. be considered as an isolated entity i.e., without These cultures also differ in their emphasis on consideration of the influence of the social individualism versus collectivism. Although a number environment in which many species live (McEwen & of cultures with lower frequencies of the S allele have Akil, 2011). Social factors were, nevertheless, once more collectivistic cultures than the United States, thought to have little relevance to basic biological there is a positive correlation between the structure or function, or if they did have relevance percentage of S allele carriers and a culture’s rating they were thought to be too complex to warrant on a scale from individualistic to collectivistic (Chiao study. When social neuroscience was first proposed, & Blizinsky, 2010). Although multiple relationships attention had to be given to address why the notion are possible, Chiao and Blizinsky (2010) argued that of a social neuroscience was not an oxymoron and a population with a certain genetic mix might be more why multi-level analyses might contribute to the likely to form a particular type of culture, a culture articulation of comprehensive theories of the might shape the reproductive success of its structure and function of the brain and members, some outside variable could influence both behavior (Cacioppo & Berntson, 1992). This was the genetic mix and form of the culture, or some prior to the recognition of the importance of gene combination of these factors could influence each regulation and epigenetics in behavior, prior to the other simultaneously. People carrying the S allele discovery of mirror neuron system, and prior to the are especially attentive to negative information probes of the human brain in normal waking (Beevers, Gibb, McGeary, & Miller, 2007; Osinsky et individuals that exist today (Pearson, 2003). Indeed, al., 2008). This focus on negativity might assist a genes were still thought to be strong if not invariant person to cope well within a collectivistic determinants of human illness, phenotypes and environment, as it could lead the early recognition of behavior (cf. Chakravarti & Little, 2003). In less than impending negative interactions might give people a a decade, new techniques have been developed, chance to smooth things over before they escalate. that allow scientists to measure how the environment The L allele, on the other hand, is associated with and social factors regulate gene expression and the more attention to positive stimuli, greater risk-taking, molecular processes underlying epigenetics, leading and creativity (Fredrickson, 2001; Isen, Daubman, & to a burgeoning interest in social genomics (Cole, Nowicki, 1987), which may be better suited to the 2009; Slavich & Cole, 2013). individualistic cultural environment. How things have changed. Important The social brain hypothesis further suggests advances have been recently made, for instance, in that the social environment shaped the very structure i) neuroscience showing how gene regulation and function of the human brain. For instance, changes complex cognitive functions, including Dunbar recently reviewed evidence for the size and learning and memory, and then causes several connectivity in the primate neocortex as being developmental and psychiatric disorders effecting attributable to the complexity of the social rather than language and social functioning (Kendler, Jaffee, & physical environment in which primates evolved Romer, 2011; Reichenberg, Mill, & MacCabe, 2009); (Dunbar, 2009; Dunbar, 2012). Social animals ii) in chromatin biology showing a role for epigenetic deprived of their natural connections with mechanisms in long-term memory formation (e.g., conspecifics show deleterious effects on cognition, Lubin, 2011; Puckett & Lubin, 2011), and iii) in the behavior, neural, autonomic, hormonal, and immune stress literature with the identification of the effects of function – and similar impairments are observed in early social stress on gene regulation and the humans when they simply perceive they are socially epigenome, which then leads to long-lasting changes isolated (e.g., Cacioppo & Hawkley, 2009; Cacioppo, in behavior, cognition, mood and neuroendocrine Hawkley, Norman, & Berntson, 2011). responses predisposing to or sheltering from stress- Moreover, important advances have also related diseases later in life (e.g., Cole et al., 2012). been made in specifying the neural mechanisms There are two alleles for the serotonin underlying a host of social processes, including face transporter gene, short (S) and long (L). Children perception (Mende-Siedlecki, Said, & Todorov, | J.T. Cacioppo et al. (2013) | int.j.psychol.res. 6 (Special Issue) | PP. 1 – 6 | 2 E D I T O R I A L INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH Social Neuroscience and Social Genomics 2013), mentalizing and theory of mind (Baron-Cohen, themselves, they (like their excluded ancestors) face 2007; Frith & Frith, 2001), imitation and empathy a greater threat from bacteria than from viruses. In (Caspers, Zilles, Laird, & Eickhoff, 2010; Decety, that case, their brains generate signals that tell the Norman, Berntson, & Cacioppo, 2012; McCall & genes in the immune system to gear up to protect Singer, 2012), cooperation and moral decision against bacteria