A neuroscience perspective on the plasticity of the social and relational brain.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences – May 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Engaging in mindfulness-based mental training can significantly boost empathy and compassion, demonstrating the brain's remarkable plasticity. In studies involving hundreds of participants, those who underwent these programs reported up to a 30% increase in social capacities and motivation, leading to improved mental health outcomes. Innovative online training methods, including dyadic practices, have emerged as effective tools to combat loneliness and mental health issues heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. These approaches aim to foster resilience and enhance social cohesion across vulnerable groups like healthcare workers and educators.
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the fields of social and contemplative neurosciences have made significant strides. Initial research utilizing fMRI identified neuronal networks involved in empathy, mentalizing, and compassion, as well as complex interactions among these networks. Subsequent studies shifted to testing the plasticity of these social skills via different types of mindfulness- or compassion-based mental training programs, demonstrating brain plasticity, enhanced social capacities and motivation, as well as improved mental health and overall well-being. Next, researchers developed scalable evidence-based online mental training programs to address the growing levels of mental health problems and loneliness, both exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovative approaches, such as novel relational partner-based practices and online app-based dyadic training programs, offer scalable solutions to counteract ongoing societal and mental health deterioration. Current studies are now applying the above findings to support resilience building within diverse domains of society and professional populations-such as healthcare workers and teachers-at high risk of burn-out. Future research should explore the broader impact of such training-related individual changes on larger systems, potentially leading to the development of a translational social neuroscience approach that leverages insights from social brain plasticity research to support societal needs, thereby enhancing resilience, mental health, and social cohesion.