Lonely individuals display different neural responses compared to non-lonely individuals when observing various situations, suggesting that they pay attention to different aspects of situations. This unique perception may lead lonely individuals to feel disconnected from their peers, potentially exacerbating their feelings of loneliness over time.
Many people around the world feel lonely. Chronic loneliness is known to have far-reaching health effects and has been linked to multiple conditions and even early death. But the mechanisms through which feeling alone can lead to poor health is a puzzle. Now, researchers are looking at neurons in the hopes that they may help explain why health issues arise when social needs go unmet.
This is an audio version of our Feature Why loneliness is bad for your health
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