WASHINGTON, D.C. — Social isolation rewires the brain in myriad ways, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, addiction, and other behavioral changes. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2021, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Humans are a highly social species who crave social contact for their well-being. Loneliness induced by social isolation can cause significant neurological and behavioral changes that may lead to health issues. Given the widespread experience of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to better understand and prevent the long-term effects of social isolation. Scientists are just beginning to understand these changes and hope to find ways to curb their negative effects.
Today’s new findings show:
“This research shows that social isolation impacts many brain regions and affects many different behaviors, resulting in increased risk for disease,” said Alexa H. Veenema, the director of the Neurobiology of Social Behavior Laboratory and an associate professor at Michigan State University. “The pandemic has had a tremendous effect on our mental health. This research will provide us with insights about which specific neural circuits mediate the behavioral effects induced by social isolation. We can then find ways to restore these neural circuits, counteracting the consequences of social isolation”
This research was supported by national funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health and private funding organizations. Find out more about social isolation on BrainFacts.org .
Social Isolation Press Conference Summary
Impact of Social Isolation on the Prefrontal-nucleus Accumbens Circuit Critical for Social Recognition in Mice
Yong-Seok Lee, yongseok7@snu.ac.kr , Abstract P687.01
Post-weaning Social Isolation Alters Addiction-like Behaviors and Synaptic Plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens and Prefrontal Cortex: Role of Sex and Neuroimmune Signaling
Lisa A. Briand, lbriand@temple.edu , Abstract P727.08
Exercise as an Intervention to Minimize the Effects of Social Isolation on Anxiety
Enrique U Pérez-Cardona, enrique.perez1@upr.edu , Abstract P604.13
Amygdala-cortical Circuit Determinants of Social Isolation-induced Alcohol Consumption
Reesha R. Patel, reesha.patel@me.com , Abstract P694.10
The Role of Pair Bonding and Oxytocin Receptor Expression in Partner-seeking Behavior During Loss in Male Prairie Voles
Adam S. Smith, adamsmith@ku.edu , Abstract P588.05
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About the Society for Neuroscience
The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to understanding the brain and nervous system. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, now has nearly 37,000 members in more than 90 countries and over 130 chapters worldwide.