Number of Facebook friends equals brain size

Scientists from University College London conducted a study that showed that the number of virtual friends on the social network Facebook has a direct relationship with the volume of gray matter in the human brain. The study was conducted on three groups of people, and all three experiments confirmed this hypothesis.

All participants in the experiment underwent magnetic resonance imaging, after which the amount of gray matter in four areas of the brain was assessed. Scientists have found that the more people you have as friends on a social networking site, the more gray matter there is in four areas of the brain.

Interestingly, scientists have discovered that the number of virtual friends on Facebook and real friends is controlled by the same part of the brain - the amygdala, which, among other things, also oversees the emergence of emotions. The remaining three areas of the brain are affected only by the number of virtual friends. This suggests that each brain region is responsible for different types of communication.

However, more is not always better. One expert, Geraint Rees, points out that excess gray matter in a person's brain can lead to problems concentrating on a particular task. Thus, the number of friends in a social network is not the only factor that affects brain function.

This research could help scientists better understand how the brain works in the face of modern technology and communications. It may also be useful for people who want to better understand how social media affects our psychology and our behavior in general.