Mysteries of the Social Brain

Bruce L. Miller, MD, is the A.W. and Mary Margaret Clausen Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he is the founding director of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and Global Brain Health Institute. Dr. Miller studies social behavior and creativity in neurodegenerative disorders.Virginia Sturm, PhD is the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation Endowed Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Sturm, an affective neuroscientist and neuropsychologist at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, studies emotions, empathy, and social behavior in neurodegenerative disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions.

• Prologue. Introduction. Chapter 1. Anatomy of the Social Brain. Chapter 2. Fairness. Chapter 3. Empathy. Chapter 4. Respect. Chapter 5. Self-Awareness. Chapter 6. Openness. Chapter 7. Creativity. Chapter 8. Cultivating the Social Brain. Epilogue. Glossary.

Like the best thrillers, Mysteries of the Social Brain is a true page-turner—taking us deep inside the tantalizing complexities of our remarkable brain and revealing how our neural circuitry makes us who we are. These are, yes, stories of great loss, but they also end up being testaments to the resiliency of the human spirit.--Josh Kornbluth, Monologuist & FilmmakerMysteries of the Social Brain takes readers on an extraordinary journey into the complexities of human behavior and the brain. This book brilliantly illuminates how our brains shape empathy, fairness, creativity, and self-awareness. A masterful blend of science and storytelling, it offers deep insights into what makes us uniquely human. It is essential reading for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of the mind and the science behind our social nature. --Facundo Manes, MD, PhD, Neurologist, National Deputy of ArgentinaDr. Bruce Miller's profound passion, intrigue, and unwavering dedication to unraveling the mysteries of the human brain have not only transformed our understanding of neurological disorders but have also brought comfort to countless individuals and families worldwide, including mine. Previously, I viewed frontotemporal dementia through a lens of only tragedy and ugliness. Dr. Miller's work has reshaped my perspective, allowing me to take a step back to see that resilience, originality and sometimes brilliance can also co-exist within this complex diagnosis. His insights have opened new doors of possibility, inspiring hope, wonder and more compassion in the face of neurological challenges.Mysteries of the Social Brain explores human behavior and creativity, comparing the functions of a healthy brain to one affected by disease. This understanding helps restore a sense of humanity to Dr. Miller’s patients—a humanity often diminished by society due to their disease. This is something only Dr. Miller could achieve.--Emma Heming Willis, Frontotemporal Dementia AdvocateFascinating! Patient stories enhanced with clinical notes bring the importance of the social brain to light. The neuroscience of social behavior—described through circuitry, structures, and related experiences—spotlights the transformative role the social brain has on individuals as well as on caregivers, family, friends, and the global community. I want to cultivate these neural networks within my own brain! This book gave me the understanding and tools to do it.--Susan Schneider Williams, Artist and Advocate