Latest

social isolation

This shows a nervous looking young man in a facemask

·July 10, 2021·5 min read

The Neuroscience Behind Why Your Brain May Need Time to Adjust to ‘Un-Social Distancing’

Over 50% of people surveyed reporting they feel uneasy about returning to in-person interactions, regardless of vaccination status, following covid lockdowns. Researchers share their thoughts on how social isolation and resocialization could impact the brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 7, 2021·5 min read

Nobody’s Been Studying Socially Isolated Kids, and That’s a Problem

Study reveals clear differences between children who are rejected by their peers and those who face social isolation. Children who are rejected by their peers are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors, while those who are isolated were less likely to exhibit prosocial behaviors.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 25, 2021·4 min read

Feeling Lonely? Turn up the Volume!

Lonely and socially isolated people prefer higher volume sounds, such as loud music or background noise, compared to those who feel socially accepted, a new study reports.

This shows a clock with the numbers falling off

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 31, 2020·4 min read

A Year of Blursdays: How Coronavirus Distorted Our Sense of Time in 2020

Many people reported they felt like time was passing differently during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. Researchers explore how the pandemic has contributed to the feeling of time distortion.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 21, 2020·3 min read

Targeted Brain Stimulation Dulls Social Pain

Combining brain stimulation directed at areas of the prefrontal cortex and emotional regulation strategies helps to improve emotional response in those with psychiatric disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·December 15, 2020·4 min read

What Loneliness Looks Like in the Brain

Neuroimaging reveals several differences in the brains of lonely people, specifically in the default network. Researchers found greater gray matter density and stronger connectivity in the default networks of lonely people.

This is a cartoon of a woman sitting alone

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 23, 2020·6 min read

Social Isolation Provokes Brain Activity Similar to That Seen During Hunger Cravings

Activity in the substantia nigra is similar following a day of social isolation as it is following a day of starvation.

This shows a man sitting alone on a beach

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 22, 2020·4 min read

Loneliness in Parkinson’s Disease May Lead to Worsening of Symptoms

People with Parkinson's disease who have less social interaction are at greater risk for developing more severe symptoms of the disease than those who are less lonely.

Featured Psychology

·October 31, 2020·4 min read

Hikikomori: Understanding the People Who Choose to Live in Extreme Isolation

Researchers explore the "sociocultural mental health phenomena" of Hikikomori, a disorder in which people socially isolate for extended periods of time.

Featured Neurology Psychology

·October 28, 2020·4 min read

Social Isolation Puts Women at Higher Risk of Hypertension

Women aged 45 to 85 without partners and who didn't engage in frequent social activities had a higher rate of hypertension. Widowed women were most likely to exhibit symptoms of hypertension.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 31, 2020·4 min read

Researchers Discover a Specific Brain Circuit Damaged by Social Isolation During Childhood

Social isolation experienced during childhood has an impact on adult brain function and behavior. Following two weeks of social isolation immediately following weaning in male mice, researchers noticed a failure in activation of medial prefrontal cortex neurons projecting to the posterior paraventricular thalamus during social exposure in adulthood. Findings suggest medial prefrontal cortex neurons required for sociability are profoundly affected by social isolation at a young age.

Featured Psychology

·August 15, 2020·4 min read

Study Identifies Social Connection as the Strongest Protective Factor for Depression

Active social connection is the strongest protective factor for depression, a new study reports. Additionally, reducing sedentary activities such as watching TV or taking a nap can also help lower depression risk.