Understanding the Unique Brain Patterns of Loneliness
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The Importance of Human Connection
As social beings, our well-being significantly hinges on our relationships with others. Experiencing feelings of isolation can have severe repercussions on both our mental and physical health. Loneliness is an unfortunate reality that many face at different points in life, often serving as a catalyst for personal growth or, conversely, triggering our worst traits.
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified loneliness in ways we hadn't anticipated, leading to widespread social issues, some of which can be life-threatening. Fortunately, researchers in psychology and neuroscience are diligently investigating how loneliness impacts the brain, seeking potential solutions. Even if we don’t personally experience loneliness, its societal effects can influence us and those around us. Raising awareness might help us recognize signs of loneliness in others.
The Rise in Feelings of Loneliness
It's no secret that the global lockdowns in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted our collective mental health. While some groups, such as the youth and elderly, were particularly affected, others, including extroverts, also faced significant challenges. Reports of isolation and loneliness soared, leading to increased anxiety and depression rates.
Before the pandemic, the Surgeon General noted that "approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness." The pandemic only exacerbated the issue. By May 2023, the Surgeon General issued a warning about a pervasive epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the United States. Dr. Vivek Murthy, in an NPR podcast, stated:
"It's hard to put a price tag, if you will, on the amount of human suffering that people are experiencing right now. In the last few decades, we've just lived through a dramatic pace of change. We move more, we change jobs more often, we are living with technology that has profoundly changed how we interact with each other and how we talk to each other."
One of the challenges of loneliness is its subtlety; a person can be surrounded by others yet still feel isolated. It's not merely the quantity of our social interactions that matters, but rather the quality of those connections.
The Consequences of Loneliness
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlines some alarming health risks associated with "poor or insufficient connections" to others:
"The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Additionally, lacking social connection increases risk of premature death by more than 60%."
Such statistics underscore the gravity of the situation. Loneliness not only affects our physical health; it also profoundly impacts our mental health, with lonely individuals being over twice as likely to develop depression compared to those who rarely or never feel lonely.
Understanding Loneliness in the Brain
Recent studies have sought to unravel how loneliness manifests in the brain. Research from 2014 pinpointed specific brain regions tied to feelings of being understood or misunderstood by others. When we feel connected, areas related to reward processing, such as the temporoparietal junction and ventral striatum, become active. The latter releases dopamine, our "feel-good" neurotransmitter, encouraging social engagement.
Conversely, when we feel misunderstood, regions like the anterior insula activate, correlating with negative emotions like loneliness, often pushing us to withdraw from social interactions.
In a study published shortly before the Surgeon General's advisory, psychologist Elisa Baek and her team at UCLA investigated the unique brain activity of individuals experiencing loneliness.
The Study's Findings
Inspired by Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina," Baek's research aimed to explore the "Anna Karenina principle," which posits that "happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." The study involved 66 UCLA freshmen who completed surveys about their social experiences. Those scoring high on loneliness were categorized as "lonely," while those scoring lower were deemed "non-lonely."
Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), researchers observed the students' brain activity while they engaged with social video clips and music. The fMRI scans highlighted neural activity by detecting changes in blood flow, allowing the team to identify which brain regions were engaged during these social stimuli.
Results indicated that the non-lonely students exhibited remarkably similar brain activity patterns, whereas lonely participants showed not only distinct differences from the non-lonely group but also variability among themselves. Baek concluded:
"Our results suggest that lonely people process the world idiosyncratically, which may contribute to the reduced sense of being understood that often accompanies loneliness."
This research supports earlier findings that the quantity of social interaction is not necessarily indicative of mental well-being. Some individuals with active social lives displayed brain activity patterns similar to those of lonely participants.
Baek notes that unique perspectives can amplify feelings of loneliness, as these individuals may feel increasingly misunderstood, leading to further isolation. However, the causal relationship between disconnection and unique brain activity remains unclear and warrants further investigation.
Shifting Perspectives on Loneliness
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to overlook the importance of checking in on friends and family. We may not notice when someone withdraws or assume they are simply busy. Loneliness can manifest differently in individuals; some may become withdrawn while others display irritability, making it essential to reflect on our social interactions. Dr. Murthy emphasizes:
"Some people react to loneliness by withdrawing and getting quiet. Others react to loneliness by becoming irritable and angry, and they may lash out more. That's why sometimes it takes a little time to really reflect on what's happening in our life."
As an introvert, I often find myself going quiet, but my friends are good at checking in. Such gestures can be crucial, as they help us understand when we might be grappling with loneliness.
Now, I make it a point to reach out to friends I haven't heard from in a while. More often than not, these check-ins reveal that someone might be struggling, and even if they aren't, knowing someone cares can be uplifting.
The Unique Brain Patterns of Loneliness - Neuroscience News
This video delves into the distinct brain activity of lonely individuals, showcasing how their experiences shape their perceptions and interactions.
What Loneliness Does to Your Brain
This video explores the effects of loneliness on brain function and structure, revealing the underlying neurological changes associated with isolation.
The insights shared in this article originally appeared in the author’s newsletter, Curious Adventure, and have since been edited and republished on Medium with permission. Subscribing to any option grants access to Katrina's articles and a wealth of archived content, helping support her continued exploration of fascinating topics.