Do you really know? What does loneliness do to our brains?
Nov 19, 2025
Explore the intriguing distinction between solitude and chronic loneliness. Discover how prolonged loneliness can diminish motivation and engagement, impacting both mood and physical health. Learn about a study revealing cognitive decline in chronically lonely individuals. Delve into fascinating brain changes linked to loneliness that might enhance imagination. Gain insights from experts on how loneliness shapes our social perceptions and find resources to combat this widespread issue.
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Solitude Isn’t The Same As Loneliness
- Introversion and enjoying solitude differ from painful loneliness.
- Loneliness becomes harmful when it persists and reduces engagement.
Loneliness Lowers Motivation And Cognition
- Chronic loneliness reduces motivation and social engagement, harming both body and mind.
- It impairs cognitive progress over time compared with non-lonely people.
Brain Compensation For Social Isolation
- Lonely people showed stronger default mode connectivity and more grey matter in relevant regions.
- The brain appears to compensate for social absence by boosting imagination-related circuitry.