My excitement for psychiatry began with a serious enthusiasm for brain cells.
I remain fascinated by the inner workings of neurons, synapses, and neurotransmitters.
I remember learning in my first biology class that function is related to structure.
That is, how something is built tells you a lot about what it does.
The human brain is an organ of connection.
Every adaptation, every facet of your mental health is built to respond to interactions with your tribe.
To socialize, to engage, and to converse.
So, what happens to the brain when social paradigms shift more and more toward isolation?
I think about this a lot when I consider the benefits of human connection.
Neurons, after all, are designed to connect.
I’m creating a map of their personal web of connections.
To better understand your social connections, take some time to map out your people.
There may be other categories that make sense given where you are in life.
Roommates, study partners, activity partners, club members, industry connections, or teammates.
My family and friends, though now farther away, are still in my life.
I just need to think more about how to nourish those relationships when I’m not living in proximity.
I realized I needed to see the transition in my life and the meaning of creating our own home.
As you know, none of this happens overnight.
Building connections takes time and effort.
What connection does to the brain
A healthy brain is a connected brain.
By the same token, a healthy human is a connected human.
In doing so, we are giving our brains what they need to thrive.
I spent the evening chatting, laughing, and beaming.
Feeling connected is sometimes wonderfully simple like this.
It’s also a matter of survival.
Several studies have now shown that human connection and attention are forms of medicine.
Those social connections are also, literally, helping to keep our brains healthier.
Having social support helps to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels by about 27%.
Other studies show that social support helps to reduce bodily inflammation.
But we also know that brain inflammation is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms.
Social connections even play a role in promoting microbiome diversity.
This is yet another way our social networks can help us stay mentally fit.
There’s something else worth mentioning here.
Being with others just plain feels good.
Excerpted from the bookHEALING THE MODERN BRAINby Drew Ramsey, M.D.
Copyright 2025 by Drew Ramsey, M.D.
Reprinted courtesy of Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
