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In a new study by McGill University, scientists show the effects of loneliness on the brain by highlighting how the neural “signature” can reflect our response to feelings of social isolation. Researchers show the importance of understanding how isolation affects our health through study. They discovered a kind of signature in the brains of lonely people that distinguishes them in various ways, based on variations in the volume of different brain regions, as well as how those regions communicate with each other through networks. cerebral.
A team of researchers examined data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), genetics and psychological self-assessments of approximately 40,000 middle-aged and older adults who volunteered for their information to be included in the UK Biobank: an open access database available to health scientists. worldwide. They then compared MRI data from participants who reported that they often felt lonely with those who did not. The researchers found several differences in the brains of lonely people. These brain manifestations focused on what is called the default network – a set of brain regions involved in internal thoughts such as remembering, planning ahead, imagining, and thinking about others.
The researchers found that the predetermined networks of lonely people were more strongly connected, and surprisingly their volume of gray matter in the regions of the predetermined network was greater. Nathan Spreng of The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) at McGill University and the study’s lead author said: “In the absence of desired social experiences, lonely people may be biased towards internally directed thoughts, such as remembering or imagining social experiences. we know that these cognitive abilities are mediated by the brain regions of the predetermined network. “
Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a major health problem, and previous studies have shown that older people who experience loneliness are at increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia. Understanding how loneliness manifests in the brain could be key to preventing neurological diseases and developing better treatments, according to the study published in the journal Nature Communications.
Danilo Bzdok, a researcher at The Neuro and the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, and lead author of the study, said: “We are just beginning to understand the impact of loneliness on the brain. Expanding our knowledge in this area will help us better appreciate the urgency. to reduce loneliness in today’s society. “
