Human Brain – The Influence of Social Status

By Shagun Mohan

 

According to researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health, social status has a huge impact on brain circuitry. Corresponding parts of the brain are activated when a person moves up or down in status or when they simply view others as inferiors or superiors. Previous studies have shown that the social status of a person can generally predict his or her health. People stressed by their status have shown to have high rates of cardiovascular and depression/anxiety-like symptoms. Also, people at top positions who have the risk of losing their position tend to have a higher risk for stress-related illnesses. This position that is being referred to can be related to professional life hierarchy or anything where the concept of inferiority/superiority is present.

 

The NIMH conducted experiments to further investigate the relationship between brain activity and social status. In the experiments, researchers have found that when a person perceived someone inferior to them, an area near the front of the brain that makes interpersonal judgments and assesses social status was activated. When hierarchy is unstable, a circuit involving the mid-front part of the brain that processes the intentions and motives of others and where emotions are processed was activated as well. Also, when a person feels that he or she is superior to someone else, the brain activity of his or her brain is highly active near the front of the brain controlling action planning. On the other hand, when a person feels that he or she is inferior to someone else, the areas lower in the brain that are associated with emotional pain and frustration are activated. When people are in a more positive mood, the emotional pain circuitry is strongly activated. Zink, a researcher at NIMH, says, “The processing of hierarchical information seems to be hard-wired, occurring even outside of an explicitly competitive environment, underscoring how important it is for us.” This shows us that social status is very important to us and has a big impact on our brain, thus impacting our lives.

 

With the research that has been done, I believe that scientists are uncovering untouched ground in science. More follow-up experiments and work will need to be conducted to further investigate the brain activity in response to the experimental social hierarchy. This can help patients with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or autism, which are marked by social and thinking deficits. The researchers also believe in exploring whether particular gene variants might differentially affect brain responses in similar experiments. This research can open new doors in science and help us uncover information about our brain, mind, physiological factors and more.

 

Text: NIH/National Institute of Mental Health. "Human Brain Appears 'Hard-wired' For Hierarchy." ScienceDaily 11 November 2008.

Image: http://www.science.ca/images/Brain_Witelson.jpg