Brain size determines popularity, UK study suggests
(KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A group of British scientists have discovered that a certain part of the brain is larger in people that have many friends, Science Daily reported on Saturday.
The size of the brain's orbital prefrontal cortex - placed just above the eyes - is linked to people's ability to understand what others are thinking, or to 'mentalise,' according to a joint study by the Universities of Oxford, Liverpool University, Manchester University and Edinburgh University.
It is thought that the ability to mentalise is the key to handling social relations.
Researchers conducted an experiment where they scanned the brains of 40 volunteers to examine the area used in high-level thinking, and tested the mentalising of participants. After that, the participants were asked to list everyone they had social contact with over the previous week.
Published on Mar 27, 2012
The size of the brain's orbital prefrontal cortex - placed just above the eyes - is linked to people's ability to understand what others are thinking, or to 'mentalise,' according to a joint study by the Universities of Oxford, Liverpool University, Manchester University and Edinburgh University.
It is thought that the ability to mentalise is the key to handling social relations.
Researchers conducted an experiment where they scanned the brains of 40 volunteers to examine the area used in high-level thinking, and tested the mentalising of participants. After that, the participants were asked to list everyone they had social contact with over the previous week.