How is Social Connection Represented in the Brain?

Description

Nearly half of the U.S. population sometimes or always experiences loneliness, which is alarming given that loneliness confers risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes. Extensive research suggests loneliness is characterized by subjective isolation: many lonely individuals maintain a number of relationships but still report feeling lonely. The goal of this proposal is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to reveal how the brain represents our subjective connection to and isolation from other people, which will ultimately inform optimal ways to intervene to reduce loneliness.

Conditions

Loneliness

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Nearly half of the U.S. population sometimes or always experiences loneliness, which is alarming given that loneliness confers risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes. Extensive research suggests loneliness is characterized by subjective isolation: many lonely individuals maintain a number of relationships but still report feeling lonely. The goal of this proposal is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to reveal how the brain represents our subjective connection to and isolation from other people, which will ultimately inform optimal ways to intervene to reduce loneliness.

Using the Brain to Reveal Mental Representations of Subjective Connection

How is Social Connection Represented in the Brain?

Condition
Loneliness
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Hanover

Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States, 03755

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * safe for MRI scanning
  • * not taking psychiatric medication
  • * not safe for MRI scanning
  • * taking psychiatric medication

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Trustees of Dartmouth College,

Meghan Meyer, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Dartmouth College

Study Record Dates

2025-07-01