Out of the Loop by Design: The Neuroscience Behind My Discomfort with Gossip
My nerdy brain loves this stuff. Anatomy and physiology have always been some of my favorite sciences to study, so it makes perfect sense that I would look for answers there. From the time I can remember, gossip has made me physically uncomfortable. I do not just dislike it, I have a visceral reaction when I am in a room and someone leaves, and suddenly the conversation turns to them. My body tightens, my chest feels heavy, and my instinct is to get away. For years I thought this was just a personal quirk, but science explains something much deeper. The brain has a region called the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) . It sits in the frontal part of the cingulate gyrus, wrapping around the corpus callosum, and it is a powerful regulator of social and emotional experiences. The ACC is part of what neuroscientists call the “social pain network.” Just like physical pain signals when we touch something hot or sharp, social pain lights up in the same brain regions, including the AC...