Summary: New research reveals that our brains simplify complex social interactions by using basic mental “building blocks” or shortcuts. Researchers scanned the brains of people playing a simple team game and observed how participants kept track of interactions with both teammates and opponents.
Rather than monitoring each individual separately, the brain creates simplified patterns that capture the essential dynamics of group behavior, particularly in the prefrontal cortex—an area important for decision-making and social skills. These findings help explain how we efficiently manage and interpret the constant flood of social information encountered daily.
