Psychology

The default network of the human brain is associated with perceived social isolation

R. N. Spreng, E. Dimas, et al.

This groundbreaking study explores how loneliness shapes our brains by leveraging insights from the impressive UK Biobank cohort of around 40,000 participants. Conducted by researchers including R. Nathan Spreng and Alain Dagher, it uncovers how lonely individuals adapt through enhanced neural connectivity, potentially compensating for social absence. Discover the fascinating interplay between isolation and brain function!

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Index

Abstract

Perceived social isolation, or loneliness, significantly impacts health and well-being. This study utilized the UK Biobank cohort (n ≈ 40,000) to investigate the neural correlates of loneliness using multimodal neuroimaging. Results revealed that loneliness is associated with alterations in the default network, a brain region involved in self-referential processing and mentalizing. Lonely individuals showed stronger functional communication within this network and greater microstructural integrity of its fornix pathway, suggesting that upregulation of these circuits might compensate for the lack of social interaction.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Dec 15, 2020

Authors

R. Nathan Spreng, Emile Dimas, Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo, Alain Dagher, Philipp Koellinger, Gideon Nave, Anthony Ong, Julius M. Kernbach, Thomas V. Wiecki, Tian Ge, Yue Li, Avram J. Holmes, B. T. Thomas Yeo, Gary R. Turner, Robin I. M. Dunbar, Danilo Bzdok

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