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from the i'm-not-lonely,-i'm-an-introvert dept.
A brain region called the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) maintains a structured map of a person's social circles, based on closeness. People that struggle with loneliness often perceive a gap between themselves and others. This gap is reflected by the activity patterns of the mPFC.
The researchers had the participants think of different groups of people (self, "close others", acquaintances, and celebrities) while being scanned in an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). The perceived closeness of the subject to the imagined targets were revealed in the scans. Further, the lonelier-feeling participants had reduced perception of similarity to others in all categories.
Journal Reference:
Andrea L. Courtney, Meghan L. Meyer. Self-other representation in the social brain reflects social connection [$], Journal of Neuroscience (DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2826-19.2020)
(Score: 4, Interesting) by martyb on Saturday June 20 2020, @07:37PM (1 child)
It seems to me there are important distinctions to make here.
I can feel lonely or even 'alone' even when surrounded by people. Except for an occasional playoff game, I do not follow sports. I have acquaintances who very much are into sports. They love to talk about the chances for $team this season. About the great goal that $player made. About how bad a call the referees made in the last game. I hear that and I am immediately zoned out. I have as much interest in *that* as they might take in my chatting with a fellow geek about the latest processor from AMD.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with either discussion. Just that there is little-to-no overlap in the areas of interest.
I'd feel similarly if I were visiting an acquaintance who had several family members visiting from out-of-town. Though their shared experiences offer much basis for conversation — between them — I do not have the same foundation and so would feel very much the outsider — alone. Now, if the acquaintance was a lady friend who I wanted to get to know better, I'd make an extra effort to get to know her kin, but I'd still have a feeling of being an outsider.
On the other hand, I might be at, say, a comicon of some sort. First-time attendee. Don't know anybody there. But, a couple minute's chat can often reveal shared perspectives and start a deep conversation. In just a few minutes' time a new friendship can arise.
On the gripping hand, there are times when I would like nothing better than to go off somewhere by myself and experience solitude.
So, 'alone', 'lonely', 'isolated', and 'solitude' are related, but I would argue distinct.
In the research, as I understand it, there are certain regions of the brain that activate more depending on the, ummm, connectedness, that each participant felt towards members of the different groups. Groupings are subject to change, as are all relationships... and my receptivity to make the effort to enter into one.
Part of that effort, it seems, comes from 'rewiring' the brain to accommodate that other person.
(I apologize and ask your forbearance; it's unseasonably hot right now and I'm finding it hard to concentrate. Talking about feelings and about words that express feelings is difficult in the best of circumstances.)
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 20 2020, @10:05PM
There's a definite difference between being "with" people and being "connected to" people. Being with people that you're not connecting to can be even more isolating than knowing that people exist somewhere out there.