Brain Fitness Online Hands-On & Memoir Class

Week: 12
The Social Brain

Quick Links

Course website: bfclass.com

BrainHQ site: https://v4.brainhq.com/

Student site with schedule and more: sdcestudent55.com

Site to enroll in classes: myportal.sdccd.edu

Official SDCCE site: sdcce.edu

Click here for the class zoom link

🧠 Brain Fitness Class: The Social Brain – Connection as Cognitive Protection

“Say your name and describe a moment when you felt deeply connected to someone.”

THE SOCIAL BRAIN – WHY CONNECTION MATTERS

The brain is a social organ. Connection is not a luxury—it’s a biological necessity.
Loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (based on a study by Holt-Lunstad, 2010).
Being socially active is linked with a lower risk of dementia.
Social interaction increases neuroplasticity and stimulates cognitive processes like language, memory, and decision-making.

Interesting Facts

People with strong social ties have a 50% increased chance of survival over time.
Social interaction increases oxytocin, which reduces stress and inflammation.
Elders with frequent social activity maintain cognitive performance comparable to much younger people.
The brain’s default mode network (active during introspection) is also activated during thoughts about others.
Bilingual people often maintain cognitive function longer—and part of this is due to their frequent social language use.

🧠 The Neuroscience of Social Connection and Brain Health

1. Social Relationships and Cognitive Function

Robust social connections are vital for maintaining cognitive health. Studies have shown that individuals with strong social networks experience slower cognitive decline compared to those who are socially isolated. Social engagement stimulates cognitive processes and may protect against neurodegenerative diseases.

2. Neurotransmitters: Chemical Messengers of Social Interaction

Social interactions influence the release of key neurotransmitters that affect mood and cognition:SFI Health

Dopamine: Associated with the brain's reward system, dopamine levels increase during positive social interactions, enhancing feelings of pleasure and motivation.
Serotonin: Involved in mood regulation, serotonin levels are influenced by social experiences, affecting overall emotional well-being.

3. Hormonal Influences on Social Behavior and Brain Health

Hormones play a significant role in mediating the effects of social relationships on the brain:

Oxytocin: Often referred to as the "bonding hormone," oxytocin is released during social bonding activities, promoting trust and reducing stress.
Cortisol: Chronic social isolation can lead to elevated cortisol levels, a stress hormone that, in excess, may impair cognitive function and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

In summary, maintaining strong social connections positively influences brain health by modulating neurotransmitter and hormone levels, thereby enhancing cognitive function and reducing the risk of cognitive decline.

Inspiring quotes

“Connection is why we're here. It is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” – Brené Brown
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” – Woodrow Wilson
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” – David Viscott
“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” – Elisabeth Foley

Mini Activity

Ask: “Which quote resonates most with you and why?”

Activity

SOCIAL MAPPING

Share a blank template or whiteboard.
Participants should try to map 5–7 people they regularly connect with and describe how each one challenges or enriches their thinking.

Breakout rooms

Separate into 4 groups. Assign one of the facts below to each group. Each group will discuss examples that illustrate their assigned fact and share these with the class.

THE SCIENCE OF FRIENDSHIP & AGING

Mini-Talk Topics:

Socializing builds cognitive reserve – especially helpful when facing age-related brain changes.
Emotional bonding and laughter stimulate dopamine and serotonin – mood and memory boosters.
In long-term studies, those with rich social lives had slower memory decline.
People who volunteer and mentor others maintain better executive function over time.

Share with the group

Challenge

THE CONNECTION CHALLENGE

Challenge:
Participants will choose one brain-healthy social action to do this week:

Call an old friend
Write a thank-you message
Join a group/class (online or in-person)
Offer help to someone

Life Story Writing Activity

Prompt 1:
Think about a moment when being connected with someone truly lifted you up mentally or emotionally. Describe the scene. What made it special?

Prompt 2:
In your current life stage, how can you strengthen your social brain? What small actions could make a difference?

Prompt 3:
What’s one commitment you want to make today to nourish your brain through social connection?

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou

📚 References

Livingston, G., et al. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), 413-446.
Berkman, L. F., et al. (2000). From social integration to health: Durkheim in the new millennium. Social Science & Medicine, 51(6), 843-857.
Cacioppo, J. T., & Cacioppo, S. (2014). Social relationships and health: The toxic effects of perceived social isolation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8(2), 58-72.
Heinrichs, M., et al. (2003). Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress. Biological Psychiatry, 54(12), 1389-1398.
McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873-904.

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Week: 12The Social Brain