Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology
Previous research has provided theoretical frameworks for building inter-disciplinary bridges between sociology and the neurosciences; yet, more anatomically, or functionally focused perspectives offering detailed information to sociologists are largely missing from the literature. This manuscript a...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsoc.2019.00003/full |
| _version_ | 1818608495199518720 |
|---|---|
| author | Rengin B. Firat |
| author_facet | Rengin B. Firat |
| author_sort | Rengin B. Firat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous research has provided theoretical frameworks for building inter-disciplinary bridges between sociology and the neurosciences; yet, more anatomically, or functionally focused perspectives offering detailed information to sociologists are largely missing from the literature. This manuscript addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive review of the functions of the frontal lobes, arguably the most important brain region involved in various “human” skills ranging from abstract thinking to language. The paper proposes that the functions of the frontal lobe sub-regions can be divided into three inter-related hierarchical systems with varying degrees of causal proximity in regulating human behavior and social connectedness: (a) the most proximate, voluntary, controlled behavior—including motor functions underlying action-perception and mirror neurons, (b) more abstract motivation and emotional regulation—such as Theory of Mind and empathy, and (c) the higher-order executive functioning—e.g., inhibition of racial bias. The paper offers insights from the social neuroscience literature on phenomena that lie at the core of social theory and research including moral cognition and behavior, and empathy and inter-group attitudes and provides future research questions for interdisciplinary research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:43:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5781568611ae4824bec43992615ba373 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:43:33Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5781568611ae4824bec43992615ba3732022-12-21T22:27:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752019-02-01410.3389/fsoc.2019.00003423627Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for SociologyRengin B. FiratPrevious research has provided theoretical frameworks for building inter-disciplinary bridges between sociology and the neurosciences; yet, more anatomically, or functionally focused perspectives offering detailed information to sociologists are largely missing from the literature. This manuscript addresses this gap by offering a comprehensive review of the functions of the frontal lobes, arguably the most important brain region involved in various “human” skills ranging from abstract thinking to language. The paper proposes that the functions of the frontal lobe sub-regions can be divided into three inter-related hierarchical systems with varying degrees of causal proximity in regulating human behavior and social connectedness: (a) the most proximate, voluntary, controlled behavior—including motor functions underlying action-perception and mirror neurons, (b) more abstract motivation and emotional regulation—such as Theory of Mind and empathy, and (c) the higher-order executive functioning—e.g., inhibition of racial bias. The paper offers insights from the social neuroscience literature on phenomena that lie at the core of social theory and research including moral cognition and behavior, and empathy and inter-group attitudes and provides future research questions for interdisciplinary research.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsoc.2019.00003/fullfrontal lobesneurosociologybiosociologyprefrontal cortexfrontal lobe functionssocial neuroscience |
| spellingShingle | Rengin B. Firat Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology Frontiers in Sociology frontal lobes neurosociology biosociology prefrontal cortex frontal lobe functions social neuroscience |
| title | Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology |
| title_full | Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology |
| title_fullStr | Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology |
| title_short | Opening the “Black Box”: Functions of the Frontal Lobes and Their Implications for Sociology |
| title_sort | opening the black box functions of the frontal lobes and their implications for sociology |
| topic | frontal lobes neurosociology biosociology prefrontal cortex frontal lobe functions social neuroscience |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsoc.2019.00003/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT renginbfirat openingtheblackboxfunctionsofthefrontallobesandtheirimplicationsforsociology |