The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain

Louis Cozolino

Hear Louis Cozolino interviewed about his books on Psychjourney's audio book club

Praise for The Neuroscience of Human Relationships

"[T]his master teacher makes neuroscience fascinating and accessible….This book is highly recommended to current and future clinicians."
—Issues in Mental Health Nursing

"In this text, Louis Cozolino adds to his impressive contributions to the increasingly important and relevant field of neurobiology and attachment theory, and how these contribute to human development...I further recommend this text to others who are interested in furthering their knowledge about brain physiology and attachment constructs."
—Clinical Social Work Journal

"[A] very insightful exploration of the basic theories of interpersonal neurobiology. . . . This book makes a very valuable contribution to this much needed knowledge."
—The Scientific & Medical Network

"[A]n engaging introduction to the application of neuroscience to human behavior. I found it an absolute pleasure. . . . His deft interweaving of case examples with theory and physiology (illuminated by charts and drawings) makes the material easily digestible."
—Keeping in Touch: The United States Association for Body Psychotherapy Newsletter

“This book provides an excellent and easily understood story about the connections of social child development and neuroscience. This is a "must" for anyone interested in human behavior.”
—Lonnie Zeltzer, M.D., Director, Pediatric Pain Program, Professor of Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

“Captivating and well written, The Neuroscience of Human Relationships is a major contribution to the rapidly emerging field of neuro-psychoanalysis. Everyone practicing or interested in the emerging fields of mind and brain sciences should read it.”
—Cristina Alberini, Ph.D., Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York

"Lou Cozolino has created a comprehensive tour of the social brain, illuminating to both scientists and lay readers."
—Lise Elliot, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience, The Chicago Medical School, and author of What's Going On In There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life

"[L]ike seeing the world through a new pair of glasses….[R]eading this book has added a whole new dimension to my work and everyday life. Highly Recommended."
— Andrew Barley, Therapy Today

Overview

A visual exploration of how the brain develops throughout our lives.

Just as neurons communicate through mutual stimulation, brains strive to connect with one another. Louis Cozolino shows us how brains are highly social organisms. Balancing cogent explanation with instructive brain diagrams, he presents an atlas of sorts, illustrating how the architecture and development of brain systems—from before birth through adulthood—determine how we interact with others.

Contents

Part I: The Emergence of Social Neuroscience
Introduction: I–Me–Mine
1. The Social Brain
2. The Evolving Brain

Part II: The Social Brain: Structures and Functions 3. The Developing Brain
4. The Social Brain
5. Social and Emotional Laterality

Part III: Bridging the Social Synapse
6. Experience-Dependent Plasticity
7. Reflexes and Instincts: Jumpstarting Attachment 8. Addicted to Love
9. Implicit Social Memory
10. Ways of Attaching

Part IV: “I See You”
11. “I’ve Just Seen a Face”
12. “Getting to Know You”
13. Imitation and Mirror Neurons
14. Resonance, Attunement, and Empathy

Part V: Disorders of the Social Brain
15. Impact of Early Stress
16. Interpersonal Trauma
17. Social Phobia
18. Borderline Personality Disorder
19. Psychopathy
20. Autism

Part VI: Social Neural Plasticity
21. From Neurons to Narratives
22. Healing Relationships
23. Social Brain and Group Mind

About the Author

Louis Cozolino, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University and a private practitioner. He is the author of The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, The Making of a Therapist, and The Healthy Aging Brain: Sustaining Attachment, Attaining Wisdom. He lives in Beverly Hills, CA.

ISBN 10: 0-393-70454-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-393-70454-9
2006 / 272 pages / hardcover