Millions of Americans struggle with loneliness—but what is it doing to our brains? One answer may be sourced from Antarctica.
New research shows the impact of spending time in isolated, confined and extreme environments, such as an Antarctic research station. Penn researchers Mathias Basner, MD, PhD , of and David R Roalf, PhD , published their findings in the journal npj Microgravity . Basner and Roalf measured if exposure to these environments led to structural changes in the brain, and if so, how they may be related to cognitive performance and sleep. Their study included individuals who “wintered over” in Antarctica—confined to a research station with a small crew in a hostile environment with no rescue opportunity during the Antarctic winter, a time when there is little to no daylight.
npj Microgravity
Transient gray matter decline during antarctic isolation: Roles of sleep, exercise, and cognition
12-Jul-2025