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Vaidya N, Marquand AF, Nees F, Siehl S, Schumann G. The impact of psychosocial adversity on brain and behaviour: an overview of existing knowledge and directions for future research. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:3245-3267. [PMID: 38658773 PMCID: PMC11449794 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02556-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Environmental experiences play a critical role in shaping the structure and function of the brain. Its plasticity in response to different external stimuli has been the focus of research efforts for decades. In this review, we explore the effects of adversity on brain's structure and function and its implications for brain development, adaptation, and the emergence of mental health disorders. We are focusing on adverse events that emerge from the immediate surroundings of an individual, i.e., microenvironment. They include childhood maltreatment, peer victimisation, social isolation, affective loss, domestic conflict, and poverty. We also take into consideration exposure to environmental toxins. Converging evidence suggests that different types of adversity may share common underlying mechanisms while also exhibiting unique pathways. However, they are often studied in isolation, limiting our understanding of their combined effects and the interconnected nature of their impact. The integration of large, deep-phenotyping datasets and collaborative efforts can provide sufficient power to analyse high dimensional environmental profiles and advance the systematic mapping of neuronal mechanisms. This review provides a background for future research, highlighting the importance of understanding the cumulative impact of various adversities, through data-driven approaches and integrative multimodal analysis techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilakshi Vaidya
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andre F Marquand
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sebastian Siehl
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-Inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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2
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Barton S, Zovko A, Müller C, Krabichler Q, Schulze J, Wagner S, Grinevich V, Shamay-Tsoory S, Hurlemann R. A translational neuroscience perspective on loneliness: Narrative review focusing on social interaction, illness and oxytocin. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105734. [PMID: 38796125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
This review addresses key findings on loneliness from the social, neurobiological and clinical fields. From a translational perspective, results from studies in humans and animals are included, with a focus on social interaction, mental and physical illness and the role of oxytocin in loneliness. In terms of social interactions, lonely individuals tend to exhibit a range of abnormal behaviors based on dysfunctional social cognitions that make it difficult for them to form meaningful relationships. Neurobiologically, a link has been established between loneliness and the hypothalamic peptide hormone oxytocin. Since social interactions and especially social touch regulate oxytocin signaling, lonely individuals may have an oxytocin imbalance, which in turn affects their health and well-being. Clinically, loneliness is a predictor of physical and mental illness and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that psychopathology is both a cause and a consequence of loneliness. The final section of this review summarizes the findings from social, neurobiological and clinical perspectives to present a new model of the complex construct of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Barton
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Ana Zovko
- Dept. of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, Mannheim 68159, Germany
| | - Christina Müller
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Quirin Krabichler
- Dept. of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, Mannheim 68159, Germany
| | - Janna Schulze
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Dep. of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Dept. of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, Mannheim 68159, Germany
| | - Simone Shamay-Tsoory
- Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - René Hurlemann
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.
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Oken BS, Kaplan J, Klee D, Gallegos AM. Contributions of loneliness to cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults are independent of other risk factors and Alzheimer's pathology: a narrative review. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1380002. [PMID: 38873650 PMCID: PMC11169707 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1380002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Loneliness significantly contributes to cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults. Loneliness is a distressing feeling resulting from a perceived lack of social connection (i.e., a discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships), while social isolation is a related term that can be defined by number and type of social relationships. Importantly, loneliness is distinct from social isolation in that it is associated with a distressing self-perception. The primary focus of this narrative review is the impact of chronic loneliness on cognitive impairment and dementia among older adults. Loneliness has a significant association with many factors that are related to worse cognition, and therefore we include discussion on health, mental health, as well as the physiological effects of loneliness, neuropathology, and potential treatments. Loneliness has been shown to be related to development of dementia with a hazard ratio (HR) risk comparable to having a single APOE4 gene. The relationship of dementia to loneliness appears to be at least partially independent of other known dementia risk factors that are possibly associated with loneliness, such as depression, educational status, social isolation, and physical activity. Episodic memory is not consistently impacted by loneliness, which would be more typically impaired if the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia was due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. In addition, the several longitudinal studies that included neuropathology showed no evidence for a relationship between loneliness and AD neuropathology. Loneliness may decrease resilience, or produce greater cognitive change associated with the same level of AD neuropathology. Intervention strategies to decrease loneliness in older adults have been developed but need to consider key treatment targets beyond social isolation. Loneliness needs to be assessed in all studies of cognitive decline in elders, since it significantly contributes to the variance of cognitive function. It will be useful to better define the underlying mechanism of loneliness effects on cognition to determine if it is similar to other psychological factors related to excessive stress reactivity, such as neuroticism or even depression, which are also associated with cognitive decline. It is important from a health perspective to develop better strategies to decrease loneliness in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry S. Oken
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Josh Kaplan
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Daniel Klee
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Autumn M. Gallegos
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
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4
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Rozovsky R, Bertocci M, Iyengar S, Stiffler RS, Bebko G, Skeba AS, Brady T, Aslam H, Phillips ML. Identifying tripartite relationship among cortical thickness, neuroticism, and mood and anxiety disorders. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8449. [PMID: 38600283 PMCID: PMC11006921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59108-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The number of young adults seeking help for emotional distress, subsyndromal-syndromal mood/anxiety symptoms, including those associated with neuroticism, is rising and can be an early manifestation of mood/anxiety disorders. Identification of gray matter (GM) thickness alterations and their relationship with neuroticism and mood/anxiety symptoms can aid in earlier diagnosis and prevention of risk for future mood and anxiety disorders. In a transdiagnostic sample of young adults (n = 252;177 females; age 21.7 ± 2), Hypothesis (H) 1:regularized regression followed by multiple regression examined relationships among GM cortical thickness and clinician-rated depression, anxiety, and mania/hypomania; H2:the neuroticism factor and its subfactors as measured by NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) were tested as mediators. Analyses revealed positive relationships between left parsopercularis thickness and depression (B = 4.87, p = 0.002), anxiety (B = 4.68, p = 0.002), mania/hypomania (B = 6.08, p ≤ 0.001); negative relationships between left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) thickness and depression (B = - 5.64, p ≤ 0.001), anxiety (B = - 6.77, p ≤ 0.001), mania/hypomania (B = - 6.47, p ≤ 0.001); and positive relationships between left isthmus cingulate thickness (B = 2.84, p = 0.011), and anxiety. NEO anger/hostility mediated the relationship between left ITG thickness and mania/hypomania; NEO vulnerability mediated the relationship between left ITG thickness and depression. Examining the interrelationships among cortical thickness, neuroticism and mood and anxiety symptoms enriches the potential for identifying markers conferring risk for mood and anxiety disorders and can provide targets for personalized intervention strategies for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Rozovsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Michele Bertocci
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Satish Iyengar
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Richelle S Stiffler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Genna Bebko
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alexander S Skeba
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tyler Brady
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Haris Aslam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mary L Phillips
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 302 Loeffler Building, 121 Meyran Ave., Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Dabiri S, Mwendwa DT, Campbell A. Psychological and neurobiological mechanisms involved in the relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline in older adults. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 116:10-21. [PMID: 38008386 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Loneliness, among older adults, is one of the risk factors for developing dementia. Still, little is known about the neurobiological and psychological conditions that link loneliness to cognitive decline. The current study investigated several research aims: First, it sought to identify neurobiological and psychological pathways that may account for the relationship between loneliness and decline across several cognitive domains. These pathways included depressive symptoms, total gray matter volume, and conditional analyses of pro-inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Second, it examined loneliness as a predictor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Third, it sought to determine whether the relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline is sex-specific in older adults. Longitudinal data were collected from 2130 Rush Memory and Aging Project participants. Participants underwent annual cognitive and psychological assessments and neuroimaging procedures every year. BDNF gene expression was measured in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, cytokines were measured in serum, and the final consensus clinical diagnosis was identified at the time of death. All linear mixed and multinomial logistic regression models controlled for age at baseline, education, sex, and APOE genotype. Participants were largely women (73 %), and Caucasian (93 %). The average education was 14.93 (SD = 3.34). The average age at baseline was 80.05 (SD = 7.57). Results showed that gray matter volume and depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and cognitive decline. There was a significant interaction between loneliness and BDNF expression in relation to cognitive decline. Higher levels of BDNF expression was associated with slower decline in semantic memory and visuospatial ability. Finally, the current study also established that higher levels of loneliness was positively associated with the incidence of AD and other dementias. The present findings support the growing literature, which tends to show that the consequence of loneliness goes beyond the feeling of being isolated. Loneliness may induce physiological changes in our brains, leading to cognitive decline. Future research can explore a wide range of biological and psychological expressions of loneliness to clarify how loneliness relates to dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Dabiri
- The Alzheimer's Trial Recruitment Innovation Lab, University of Southern California, United States.
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Dai J, Zhao Z, Dong H, Du X, Guang-Heng D. The severity of addiction mediates loneliness and cortical volume in internet gaming disorder. Neuroreport 2024; 35:61-70. [PMID: 37994617 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) subjects reported higher loneliness scores than healthy controls. However, the neural correlates underlying the association between loneliness and IGD remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between loneliness, online gaming addiction and brain structure. In the current study, structural MRI data were acquired from 84 IGD subjects and 103 matched recreational game users (RGUs). We assessed and compared their addiction severity, loneliness scores, and cortical volumes and analyzed the correlations among these values. Significant correlations were found between loneliness scores and brain volumes in the postcentral cortex, the medial orbitofrontal cortex, the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, and the temporal cortex. In addition, the addiction severity scores partly mediated the relationship between loneliness score and cortical volume in IGD. The results showed that participants with extreme loneliness had significant correlations with brain regions responsible for executive control, social threat surveillance and avoidance. More importantly, the severity of addiction mediates loneliness and cortical volume. The findings shed new insight into the neural mechanisms of loneliness and IGD and have implications for potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhong Dai
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University
| | - Zhen Zhao
- The affiliated Jianwen Middle School of Zhejiang Normal University, Hangzhou
| | - Haohao Dong
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University
| | - Xiaoxia Du
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai
| | - Dong Guang-Heng
- Department of Psychology, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, P.R. China
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7
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Olry R. Hikikomori (きこもり): Ancient term, modern concept. JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF THE NEUROSCIENCES 2023; 32:499-505. [PMID: 37459241 DOI: 10.1080/0964704x.2023.2231794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Régis Olry
- Département d'Anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
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8
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Zheng S, Chen X, Liu W, Li Z, Xiao M, Liu Y, Chen H. Association of loneliness and grey matter volume in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: the mediating role of interpersonal self-support traits. Brain Imaging Behav 2023; 17:481-493. [PMID: 37277604 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00776-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
As a social and public health concern, loneliness is associated with an abundance of negative life outcomes such as depressive symptomatology, mortality, and sleep disturbance. Nevertheless, the neural basis underlying loneliness remains elusive; in addition, previous neuroimaging studies about loneliness mainly focused on the elderly and were limited by small sample sizes. Here, utilizing the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach via structural magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the association between brain GMV and loneliness in 462 young adults (67.7% females, age = 18.59 ± 1.14 years). Results from whole-brain VBM analyses revealed that individuals with higher loneliness tended to have greater GMV in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which was thought to be associated with emotional regulation deficits and executive dysfunction. Importantly, the GMV-based predictive models (a machine-learning method) demonstrated that the correlation between loneliness and GMV in the DLPFC was robust. Further, interpersonal self-support traits (ISS), a Chinese indigenous personality construct and pivotal personality factor for resisting negative life outcomes, mediated the relationship between the GMV in the right DLPFC and loneliness. Taken together, the present study reveals that the GMV in right DLPFC acts as an underlying neurostructural correlate of loneliness in the healthy brain, and further provides a brain-personality-symptom pathway for protection against loneliness in which GMV of DLPFC affects loneliness through ISS traits. Future intervention procedures aiming to decrease loneliness and enhance mental health levels among young adults should be developed through improving interpersonal relationships such as social skills training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ximei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Weijun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ziang Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Mingyue Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Research Center of Psychology and Social Development, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Mwilambwe-Tshilobo L, Setton R, Bzdok D, Turner GR, Spreng RN. Age differences in functional brain networks associated with loneliness and empathy. Netw Neurosci 2023; 7:496-521. [PMID: 37397888 PMCID: PMC10312262 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is associated with differences in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) within and between large-scale networks in early- and middle-aged adult cohorts. However, age-related changes in associations between sociality and brain function into late adulthood are not well understood. Here, we examined age differences in the association between two dimensions of sociality-loneliness and empathic responding-and RSFC of the cerebral cortex. Self-report measures of loneliness and empathy were inversely related across the entire sample of younger (mean age = 22.6y, n = 128) and older (mean age = 69.0y, n = 92) adults. Using multivariate analyses of multi-echo fMRI RSFC, we identified distinct functional connectivity patterns for individual and age group differences associated with loneliness and empathic responding. Loneliness in young and empathy in both age groups was related to greater visual network integration with association networks (e.g., default, fronto-parietal control). In contrast, loneliness was positively related to within- and between-network integration of association networks for older adults. These results extend our previous findings in early- and middle-aged cohorts, demonstrating that brain systems associated with loneliness, as well as empathy, differ in older age. Further, the findings suggest that these two aspects of social experience engage different neurocognitive processes across human life-span development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Roni Setton
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Mila–Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gary R. Turner
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - R. Nathan Spreng
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
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Fukumitsu K, Kuroda KO. Behavioral and histochemical characterization of sexually dimorphic responses to acute social isolation and reunion in mice. Neurosci Res 2023:S0168-0102(23)00071-8. [PMID: 37030575 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
In many mammalian species, females exhibit higher sociability and gregariousness than males, presumably due to the benefit of group living for maternal care. We have previously reported that adult female mice exhibit contact-seeking behaviors upon acute social isolation via amylin-calcitonin receptor (Calcr) signaling in the medial preoptic area (MPOA). In this study, we examined the sex differences in the behavioral responses to acute social isolation and reunion, and the levels of amylin and Calcr expression in the MPOA. We found that male mice exhibited significantly less contact-seeking upon social isolation. Upon reunion, male mice contacted each other to a similar extent as females, but their interactions were more aggressive and less affiliative compared with females. While Calcr-expressing neurons were activated during social contacts in males as in females, the amylin and Calcr expression were significantly lower in males than in females. Together with our previous findings, these findings suggested that the lower expression of both amylin and Calcr may explain the lower contact-seeking and social affiliation of male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kansai Fukumitsu
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama 351-0198 Japan.
| | - Kumi O Kuroda
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama 351-0198 Japan.
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11
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Yin M, Lee EJ. Exposure to loneliness cues reduces prosocial behavior: Evidence from N400 and P300. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1094652. [PMID: 37138978 PMCID: PMC10150042 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1094652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality. However, the effect of loneliness on subsequent prosocial behavior is not well known. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying loneliness is necessary to address this research gap. We investigate the mechanism using a modified public goods game (PGG) wherein participants can choose to act for a collective or selfish interest after being exposed to loneliness cues. Both behavioral (Study 1) and event-related potential (ERP) (Study 2) measures were used to explore this relationship. In Study 1 (N = 131), we found that participants exhibited decreased prosocial actions under the loneliness priming condition as opposed to the control condition. In Study 2 (N = 17), frontal N400 and posterior P300 components were identified under the loneliness priming condition as opposed to the control condition. Increased (decreased) frontal N400 and posterior P300 lead to selfish (prosocial) choices. These results indicate that humans instinctively perceive loneliness as inconsistency with their desired social-relational life, which in turn stimulates coping strategies for self-preservation. This study contributes to our understanding of the neurobiological basis of loneliness associated with prosocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Yin
- Business School, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ju Lee
- Business School, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Neuro Intelligence Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- *Correspondence: Eun-Ju Lee,
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Li S, Kong K, Zhang K, Niu H. The relation between college students' neuroticism and loneliness: The chain mediating roles of self-efficacy, social avoidance and distress. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1124588. [PMID: 37138990 PMCID: PMC10149762 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1124588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recently, identifying the psychological mechanism of college students' loneliness has attracted wide attention because the maladjustment caused by college students' loneliness is increasingly common. This study explored the relationship and potential mechanism between college students' neuroticism and loneliness in a large sample. Methods A total of 4,600 college students completed the Big Five Personality Scale, Loneliness Scale, Self-efficacy Scale and Social Avoidance and Distress Scale. Results By examining the chain mediating roles of self-efficacy, social avoidance and distress (SAD) in the relation between neuroticism and loneliness, the present study found that college students' neuroticism was positively associated with loneliness via self-efficacy and SAD, respectively, and sequentially. Conclusions The results suggest a significant positive association between neuroticism and loneliness, which is influenced by the mediating effects of both self-efficacy and social avoidance and distress (SAD), as well as the chained mediating effects of self-efficacy and SAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuna Li
- College of Marxism, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Kaizhen Kong
- Department of Student Affairs, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Kaijie Zhang
- College of Marxism, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Hua Niu
- College of Marxism, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Hua Niu,
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13
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Savignac C, Villeneuve S, Badhwar A, Saltoun K, Shafighi K, Zajner C, Sharma V, Gagliano Taliun SA, Farhan S, Poirier J, Bzdok D. APOE alleles are associated with sex-specific structural differences in brain regions affected in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001863. [PMID: 36512526 PMCID: PMC9747055 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is marked by intracellular tau aggregates in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and extracellular amyloid aggregates in the default network (DN). Here, we examined codependent structural variations between the MTL's most vulnerable structure, the hippocampus (HC), and the DN at subregion resolution in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). By leveraging the power of the approximately 40,000 participants of the UK Biobank cohort, we assessed impacts from the protective APOE ɛ2 and the deleterious APOE ɛ4 Alzheimer's disease alleles on these structural relationships. We demonstrate ɛ2 and ɛ4 genotype effects on the inter-individual expression of HC-DN co-variation structural patterns at the population level. Across these HC-DN signatures, recurrent deviations in the CA1, CA2/3, molecular layer, fornix's fimbria, and their cortical partners related to ADRD risk. Analyses of the rich phenotypic profiles in the UK Biobank cohort further revealed male-specific HC-DN associations with air pollution and female-specific associations with cardiovascular traits. We also showed that APOE ɛ2/2 interacts preferentially with HC-DN co-variation patterns in estimating social lifestyle in males and physical activity in females. Our structural, genetic, and phenotypic analyses in this large epidemiological cohort reinvigorate the often-neglected interplay between APOE ɛ2 dosage and sex and link APOE alleles to inter-individual brain structural differences indicative of ADRD familial risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Savignac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sylvia Villeneuve
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC), MNI, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Studies in the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, Douglas Mental Health Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - AmanPreet Badhwar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Karin Saltoun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kimia Shafighi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chris Zajner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Vaibhav Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sarah A. Gagliano Taliun
- Department of Neurosciences & Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sali Farhan
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Judes Poirier
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Studies in the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease, Douglas Mental Health Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre (BIC), MNI, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Mila—Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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14
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Smith T. An exploratory analysis of the relationship of problematic Facebook use with loneliness and self-esteem: the mediating roles of extraversion and self-presentation. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-15. [PMID: 35967491 PMCID: PMC9358083 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03505-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Studies indicate that loneliness and self-esteem are predictive factors of problematic social media use. Further, it is proposed that self-presentation and extraversion may explain individual differences in online activity and problematic social media use. The present study confirms the relationship of loneliness and self-esteem with problematic Facebook use and investigates the hypothesis that these psychological factors may be linked to problematic Facebook use through their association with self-presentation and extraversion. The sample of university students consisted of 477 Facebook users, 64% females, aged 18-64. Social media usage intensity was assessed by collecting passive data on the total time spent and the number of sessions on Facebook per day for the last 6 months. The psychological factors, personality, motives and problematic Facebook use were assessed via self-report measures. Results showed that the relationship of loneliness and self-esteem with problematic Facebook use was significantly positive and negative respectively. The relationship between self-esteem and problematic Facebook use was found to be inconsistently mediated by both self-presentation and extraversion, while loneliness was partially mediated by self-presentation only. The total effect of loneliness and self-esteem remained positive and negative respectively, although extraversion and self-presentation had a suppressing effect on the relationship between self-esteem and problematic Facebook use. Further, the prevalence of 'at-risk' Facebook users was found to be 6.0%. It was also determined that the usage intensity of 'at-risk' users was significantly different from other Facebook users. These results highlight the existence of different patterns of associations linking psychological factors, usage intensity and problematic Facebook use. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03505-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy Smith
- Targeted Evidence-Based Research Solutions Ltd, Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago
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15
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Wong NML, Mabel-Kenzie STST, Lin C, Huang CM, Liu HL, Lee SH, Lee TMC. Meta-analytic evidence for the cognitive control model of loneliness in emotion processing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104686. [PMID: 35537565 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness is strongly related to affective dysregulation. However, the neuropsychological mechanisms underpinning the loneliness-affective processing relationships remain unclear. Here, we first utilised the coordinate-based activation likelihood estimation method to confirm functional clusters related to loneliness, including the striatum, superior and medial frontal gyrus, insula, and cuneus. Meta-analytic connectivity modelling was then performed to characterise the functional connectivity of these clusters across studies using emotion tasks. Our results revealed that these clusters co-activated with the cognitive control networks. From the literature, we understand that loneliness and its neural correlates are highly related to regulating the attention biases to social rewards and social cues. Therefore, our findings provide a proof-of-concept that loneliness up-regulates the cognitive control networks to process socio-affective information. Prolonged up-regulation thus exhausts cognitive resources and hence, affective dysregulation. This study offers insight into the intricate role of cognitive and affective regulation in loneliness and social perception and provides meta-analytic evidence of the cognitive control model of loneliness and loneliness-related affective dysregulation, bringing significant clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichol M L Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Sammi T S T Mabel-Kenzie
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chemin Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan; Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ho-Ling Liu
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shwu-Hua Lee
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan County, Taiwan.
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Human Neuroscience, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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16
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Brilliant T D, Takeuchi H, Nouchi R, Yokoyama R, Kotozaki Y, Nakagawa S, Hanawa S, Sekiguchi A, Ikeda S, Sakaki K, Kawata KHDS, Nozawa T, Yokota S, Magistro D, Kawashima R. Loneliness inside of the brain: evidence from a large dataset of resting-state fMRI in young adult. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7856. [PMID: 35550564 PMCID: PMC9098468 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11724-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although loneliness itself is a natural emotion, prolonged loneliness is detrimental to human health. Despite its detrimental effect, few loneliness-related neuroimaging studies have been published and some have limitations on the sample size number. This study aims to find the difference in resting-state functional connectivity associated with loneliness within a big sample size via the seed-based approach. Functional connectivity analysis was performed on a large cohort of young adults (N = 1336) using the seed-based functional connectivity approach to address the concern from previous studies. The analysis yielded statistically significant positive correlations between loneliness and functional connectivities between the inferior frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area, precentral gyrus, and superior parietal lobule. Additionally, the analysis replicated a finding from a previous study, which is increased functional connectivities between the inferior frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area. In conclusion, greater loneliness is reflected by stronger functional connectivity of the visual attention brain area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denilson Brilliant T
- Department of Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Departments of Cognitive Health Science, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Yuka Kotozaki
- Division of Clinical Research, Medical-Industry Translational Research Center, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Human Brain Science, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Psychiatry, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sugiko Hanawa
- Department of Human Brain Science, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Ikeda
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Sakaki
- Department of Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | - Takayuki Nozawa
- Research Institute for the Earth Inclusive Sensing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Susumu Yokota
- Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Daniele Magistro
- Department of Sport Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Department of Advanced Brain Science, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Ageing and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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17
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Solé-Padullés C, Macià D, Andersson M, Stiernstedt M, Pudas S, Düzel S, Zsoldos E, Ebmeier KP, Binnewies J, Drevon CA, Brandmaier AM, Mowinckel AM, Fjell AM, Madsen KS, Baaré WFC, Lindenberger U, Nyberg L, Walhovd KB, Bartrés-Faz D. No Association Between Loneliness, Episodic Memory and Hippocampal Volume Change in Young and Healthy Older Adults: A Longitudinal European Multicenter Study. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:795764. [PMID: 35283753 PMCID: PMC8905540 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.795764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Loneliness is most prevalent during adolescence and late life and has been associated with mental health disorders as well as with cognitive decline during aging. Associations between longitudinal measures of loneliness and verbal episodic memory and brain structure should thus be investigated. Methods We sought to determine associations between loneliness and verbal episodic memory as well as loneliness and hippocampal volume trajectories across three longitudinal cohorts within the Lifebrain Consortium, including children, adolescents (N = 69, age range 10-15 at baseline examination) and older adults (N = 1468 over 60). We also explored putative loneliness correlates of cortical thinning across the entire cortical mantle. Results Loneliness was associated with worsening of verbal episodic memory in one cohort of older adults. Specifically, reporting medium to high levels of loneliness over time was related to significantly increased memory loss at follow-up examinations. The significance of the loneliness-memory change association was lost when eight participants were excluded after having developed dementia in any of the subsequent follow-up assessments. No significant structural brain correlates of loneliness were found, neither hippocampal volume change nor cortical thinning. Conclusion In the present longitudinal European multicenter study, the association between loneliness and episodic memory was mainly driven by individuals exhibiting progressive cognitive decline, which reinforces previous findings associating loneliness with cognitive impairment and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Solé-Padullés
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,*Correspondence: Cristina Solé-Padullés,
| | - Dídac Macià
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic – University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Micael Andersson
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden,Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mikael Stiernstedt
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden,Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sara Pudas
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden,Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sandra Düzel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enikő Zsoldos
- Department of Psychiatry, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Klaus P. Ebmeier
- Department of Psychiatry, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Binnewies
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christian A. Drevon
- Vitas Ltd., Oslo, Norway,Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andreas M. Brandmaier
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Athanasia M. Mowinckel
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M. Fjell
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kathrine Skak Madsen
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark,Radiography, Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - William F. C. Baaré
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden,Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden,Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kristine B. Walhovd
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - David Bartrés-Faz
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Site A, Lohan ES, Jolanki O, Valkama O, Hernandez RR, Latikka R, Alekseeva D, Vasudevan S, Afolaranmi S, Ometov A, Oksanen A, Martinez Lastra J, Nurmi J, Fernandez FN. Managing Perceived Loneliness and Social-Isolation Levels for Older Adults: A Survey with Focus on Wearables-Based Solutions. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22031108. [PMID: 35161852 PMCID: PMC8839843 DOI: 10.3390/s22031108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
As an inevitable process, the number of older adults is increasing in many countries worldwide. Two of the main problems that society is being confronted with more and more, in this respect, are the inter-related aspects of feelings of loneliness and social isolation among older adults. In particular, the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its associated restrictions have exacerbated the loneliness and social-isolation problems. This paper is first and foremost a comprehensive survey of loneliness monitoring and management solutions, from the multidisciplinary perspective of technology, gerontology, socio-psychology, and urban built environment. In addition, our paper also investigates machine learning-based technological solutions with wearable-sensor data, suitable to measure, monitor, manage, and/or diminish the levels of loneliness and social isolation, when one also considers the constraints and characteristics coming from social science, gerontology, and architecture/urban built environments points of view. Compared to the existing state of the art, our work is unique from the cross-disciplinary point of view, because our authors' team combines the expertise from four distinct domains, i.e., gerontology, social psychology, architecture, and wireless technology in addressing the two inter-related problems of loneliness and social isolation in older adults. This work combines a cross-disciplinary survey of the literature in the four aforementioned domains with a proposed wearable-based technological solution, introduced first as a generic framework and, then, exemplified through a simple proof of concept with dummy data. As the main findings, we provide a comprehensive view on challenges and solutions in utilizing various technologies, particularly those carried by users, also known as wearables, to measure, manage, and/or diminish the social isolation and the perceived loneliness among older adults. In addition, we also summarize the identified solutions which can be used for measuring and monitoring various loneliness- and social isolation-related metrics, and we present and validate, through a simple proof-of-concept mechanism, an approach based on machine learning for predicting and estimating loneliness levels. Open research issues in this field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Site
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (D.A.); (A.O.); (J.N.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (E.S.L.)
| | - Elena Simona Lohan
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (D.A.); (A.O.); (J.N.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (E.S.L.)
| | - Outi Jolanki
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (O.J.); (O.V.); (R.L.); (A.O.)
| | - Outi Valkama
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (O.J.); (O.V.); (R.L.); (A.O.)
| | - Rosana Rubio Hernandez
- Faculty of Built Environment, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (R.R.H.); (F.N.F.)
| | - Rita Latikka
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (O.J.); (O.V.); (R.L.); (A.O.)
| | - Daria Alekseeva
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (D.A.); (A.O.); (J.N.)
| | - Saigopal Vasudevan
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (S.V.); (S.A.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Samuel Afolaranmi
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (S.V.); (S.A.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Aleksandr Ometov
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (D.A.); (A.O.); (J.N.)
| | - Atte Oksanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (O.J.); (O.V.); (R.L.); (A.O.)
| | - Jose Martinez Lastra
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (S.V.); (S.A.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Jari Nurmi
- Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland; (D.A.); (A.O.); (J.N.)
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19
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Norbury R. Night Owls and Lone Wolves. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2021.2014083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ray Norbury
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Division of Psychology, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
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20
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Alsubheen SA, Oliveira A, Habash R, Goldstein R, Brooks D. Systematic review of psychometric properties and cross-cultural adaptation of the University of California and Los Angeles loneliness scale in adults. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 42:1-15. [PMID: 34785877 PMCID: PMC8586628 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02494-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This systematic review assessed the psychometric properties and the cross-cultural adaptation of the University of California and Los Angeles Loneliness scale (UCLA-LS) in adults. A systematic search of four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and PsycINFO) was conducted from inception until March 2021. We followed the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines for data extraction and evidence synthesis. Eighty-one studies assessed the validity and reliability of the UCLA-LS, translated into many languages, and applied across several countries/societies. Three versions of the 20-item and nine short versions of the UCLA-LS with 3 to 20 questions were identified. High-quality evidence supported the internal structure of the UCLAs: 4, 6, 7 and 10, while low-to moderate-quality evidence supported the construct validity of the UCLAs: 3, 4, 6, 8, 16 and 20. Moderate-quality evidence supported the test-retest reliability of version 3 UCLA-20 with excellent interclass coefficients values of 0.76-0.93. The UCLAs: 4, 6, 7 and 10 had the most robust internal structure and may therefore be the most useful for informing clinicians and social psychologists engaged in assisting those with loneliness. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-021-02494-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaa A. Alsubheen
- School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, IAHS Building Room 430, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7 Canada
| | - Ana Oliveira
- School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, IAHS Building Room 430, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7 Canada
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, ON Canada
- Lab3R – Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal
- Institute for Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Razanne Habash
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Roger Goldstein
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, ON Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Dina Brooks
- School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, IAHS Building Room 430, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7 Canada
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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21
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Lam JA, Murray ER, Yu KE, Ramsey M, Nguyen TT, Mishra J, Martis B, Thomas ML, Lee EE. Neurobiology of loneliness: a systematic review. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1873-1887. [PMID: 34230607 PMCID: PMC8258736 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01058-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Deeper understanding of neurobiological mechanisms underlying loneliness is needed to identify potential intervention targets. We did not find any systematic review of neurobiology of loneliness. Using MEDLINE and PsycINFO online databases, we conducted a search for peer-reviewed publications examining loneliness and neurobiology. We identified 41 studies (n = 16,771 participants) that had employed various methods including computer tomography (CT), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and post-mortem brain tissue RNA analysis or pathological analysis. Our synthesis of the published findings shows abnormal structure (gray matter volume or white matter integrity) and/or activity (response to pleasant versus stressful images in social versus nonsocial contexts) in the prefrontal cortex (especially medial and dorsolateral), insula (particularly anterior), amygdala, hippocampus, and posterior superior temporal cortex. The findings related to ventral striatum and cerebellum were mixed. fMRI studies reported links between loneliness and differential activation of attentional networks, visual networks, and default mode network. Loneliness was also related to biological markers associated with Alzheimer's disease (e.g., amyloid and tau burden). Although the published investigations have limitations, this review suggests relationships of loneliness with altered structure and function in specific brain regions and networks. We found a notable overlap in the regions involved in loneliness and compassion, the two personality traits that are inversely correlated in previous studies. We have offered recommendations for future research studies of neurobiology of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A. Lam
- grid.40263.330000 0004 1936 9094Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI USA
| | - Emily R. Murray
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Kasey E. Yu
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Marina Ramsey
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Tanya T. Nguyen
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Brian Martis
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Michael L. Thomas
- grid.47894.360000 0004 1936 8083Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Ellen E. Lee
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,grid.410371.00000 0004 0419 2708Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
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22
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Feng YX, Roslan NS, Izhar LI, Abdul Rahman M, Faye I, Ho ETW. Conversational Task Increases Heart Rate Variability of Individuals Susceptible to Perceived Social Isolation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9858. [PMID: 34574777 PMCID: PMC8466201 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Studies showed that introversion is the strongest personality trait related to perceived social isolation (loneliness), which can predict various complications beyond objective isolation such as living alone. Lonely individuals are more likely to resort to social media for instantaneous comfort, but it is not a perpetual solution. Largely negative implications including poorer interpersonal relationship and depression were reported due to excessive social media usage. Conversational task is an established intervention to improve verbal communication, cognitive and behavioral adaptation among lonely individuals. Despite that behavioral benefits have been reported, it is unclear if they are accompanied by objective benefits underlying physiological changes. Here, we investigate the physiological signals from 28 healthy individuals during a conversational task. Participants were ranked by trait extraversion, where greater introversion is associated with increased susceptibility to perceived social isolation as compared to participants with greater extraversion as controls. We found that introverts had a greater tendency to be neurotic, and these participants also exhibited significant differences in task-related electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) as compared to controls. Notably, resting state HRV among individuals susceptible to perceived loneliness was below the healthy thresholds established in literature. Conversational task with a stranger significantly increased HRV among individuals susceptible to isolation up to levels as seen in controls. Since HRV is also elevated by physical exercise and administration of oxytocin hormone (one form of therapy for behavioral isolation), conversational therapy among introverts could potentially confer physiological benefits to ameliorate social isolation and loneliness. Our findings also suggest that although the recent pandemic has changed how people are interacting typically, we should maintain a healthy dose of social interaction innovatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xing Feng
- Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia; (N.S.R.); (I.F.)
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia;
| | - Nur Syahirah Roslan
- Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia; (N.S.R.); (I.F.)
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia;
| | - Lila Iznita Izhar
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia;
- Smart Assistive and Rehabilitative Technology (SMART) Research Group, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
| | | | - Ibrahima Faye
- Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia; (N.S.R.); (I.F.)
- Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Eric Tatt Wei Ho
- Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia; (N.S.R.); (I.F.)
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia;
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23
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Dong H, Wang M, Zheng H, Zhang J, Dong GH. The functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and supplementary motor area moderates the relationship between internet gaming disorder and loneliness. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 108:110154. [PMID: 33137406 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) usually report a higher sense of loneliness. Although studies have suggested a key role of the prefrontal cortex-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in both IGD and loneliness, the potential mechanism between IGD and loneliness remains unclear. METHODS Fifty-seven IGD and 81 matched recreational internet gamer users (RGU) underwent resting-state fMRI scans. The UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure loneliness. We first explored the brain areas that are both associated with loneliness and IGD severity. Then, the neuroimaging findings were extracted to test whether the rsFC of these brain regions moderates the relationship between IGD and loneliness. RESULTS We observed reduced rsFC between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the left precentral and the postcentral gyri and the supplementary motor area (SMA), which also correlated with increased IAT (Young''s internet addiction test) scores. More importantly, the rsFC of the DLPFC-precentral gyrus and the DLPFC-postcentral gyrus moderated the relationship between IGD severity and loneliness scores. Additionally, we also found that the rsFC of the left DLPFC-precentral gyrus, the DLPFC-postcentral gyrus and the right DLPFC-SMA moderated the relationship between self-reported gaming craving and the UCLA scores. CONCLUSIONS The current study confirmed the role of the DLPFC in reward control (game craving) and emotion regulation (loneliness). Additionally, the rsFC of the prefrontal cortex-supplementary motor area moderates IGD and loneliness. These findings provide valuable understanding of the two-way relationship between IGD and loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohao Dong
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, PR China
| | - Ming Wang
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, PR China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Jialin Zhang
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, PR China
| | - Guang-Heng Dong
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, PR China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, PR China.
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24
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Abstract
According to the social brain hypothesis, the human brain includes a network designed for the processing of social information. This network includes several brain regions that elaborate social cues, interactions and contexts, i.e. prefrontal paracingulate and parietal cortices, amygdala, temporal lobes and the posterior superior temporal sulcus. While current literature suggests the importance of this network from both a psychological and evolutionary perspective, little is known about its neurobiological bases. Specifically, only a paucity of studies explored the neural underpinnings of constructs that are ascribed to the social brain network functioning, i.e. objective social isolation and perceived loneliness. As such, this review aimed to overview neuroimaging studies that investigated social isolation in healthy subjects. Social isolation correlated with both structural and functional alterations within the social brain network and in other regions that seem to support mentalising and social processes (i.e. hippocampus, insula, ventral striatum and cerebellum). However, results are mixed possibly due to the heterogeneity of methods and study design. Future neuroimaging studies with longitudinal designs are needed to measure the effect of social isolation in experimental v. control groups and to explore its relationship with perceived loneliness, ultimately helping to clarify the neural correlates of the social brain.
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25
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Liu X, Lai H, Li J, Becker B, Zhao Y, Cheng B, Wang S. Gray matter structures associated with neuroticism: A meta-analysis of whole-brain voxel-based morphometry studies. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:2706-2721. [PMID: 33704850 PMCID: PMC8127153 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroticism is major higher-order personality trait and has been robustly associated with mental and physical health outcomes. Although a growing body of studies have identified neurostructural markers of neuroticism, the results remained highly inconsistent. To characterize robust associations between neuroticism and variations in gray matter (GM) structures, the present meta-analysis investigated the concurrence across voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies using the anisotropic effect size signed differential mapping (AES-SDM). A total of 13 studies comprising 2,278 healthy subjects (1,275 females, 29.20 ± 14.17 years old) were included. Our analysis revealed that neuroticism was consistently associated with the GM structure of a cluster spanning the bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and extending to the adjacent medial prefrontal cortex (dACC/mPFC). Meta-regression analyses indicated that the neuroticism-GM associations were not confounded by age and gender. Overall, our study is the first whole-brain meta-analysis exploring the brain structural correlates of neuroticism, and the findings may have implications for the intervention of high-neuroticism individuals, who are at risk of mental disorders, by targeting the dACC/mPFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiqin Liu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Lai
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jingguang Li
- College of Teacher Education, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- School of Education and Psychology, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bochao Cheng
- Department of Radiology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Song Wang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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26
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Spreng RN, Dimas E, Mwilambwe-Tshilobo L, Dagher A, Koellinger P, Nave G, Ong A, Kernbach JM, Wiecki TV, Ge T, Li Y, Holmes AJ, Yeo BTT, Turner GR, Dunbar RIM, Bzdok D. The default network of the human brain is associated with perceived social isolation. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6393. [PMID: 33319780 PMCID: PMC7738683 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20039-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans survive and thrive through social exchange. Yet, social dependency also comes at a cost. Perceived social isolation, or loneliness, affects physical and mental health, cognitive performance, overall life expectancy, and increases vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease-related dementias. Despite severe consequences on behavior and health, the neural basis of loneliness remains elusive. Using the UK Biobank population imaging-genetics cohort (n = ~40,000, aged 40-69 years when recruited, mean age = 54.9), we test for signatures of loneliness in grey matter morphology, intrinsic functional coupling, and fiber tract microstructure. The loneliness-linked neurobiological profiles converge on a collection of brain regions known as the 'default network'. This higher associative network shows more consistent loneliness associations in grey matter volume than other cortical brain networks. Lonely individuals display stronger functional communication in the default network, and greater microstructural integrity of its fornix pathway. The findings fit with the possibility that the up-regulation of these neural circuits supports mentalizing, reminiscence and imagination to fill the social void.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Nathan Spreng
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, HRH 1R3, Canada.
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Emile Dimas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alain Dagher
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Philipp Koellinger
- School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gideon Nave
- Marketing Department, the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Anthony Ong
- Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julius M Kernbach
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Aachen (NAILA), RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Tian Ge
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Yue Li
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Avram J Holmes
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CA, 06520, USA
| | - B T Thomas Yeo
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Centre for Sleep & Cognition, Clinical Imaging Research Centre, N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gary R Turner
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robin I M Dunbar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Danilo Bzdok
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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27
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Shao R, Liu HL, Huang CM, Chen YL, Gao M, Lee SH, Lin C, Lee TMC. Loneliness and depression dissociated on parietal-centered networks in cognitive and resting states. Psychol Med 2020; 50:2691-2701. [PMID: 31615593 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291719002782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perceived loneliness, an increasingly prevalent social issue, is closely associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the neural mechanisms previously implicated in key cognitive and affective processes in loneliness and MDD still remain unclear. Such understanding is critical for delineating the psychobiological basis of the relationship between loneliness and MDD. METHODS We isolated the unique and interactive cognitive and neural substrates of loneliness and MDD among 27 MDD patients (mean age = 51.85 years, 20 females), and 25 matched healthy controls (HCs; mean age = 48.72 years, 19 females). We assessed participants' behavioral performance and neural regional and network functions on a Stroop color-word task, and their resting-state neural connectivity. RESULTS Behaviorally, we found greater incongruence-related accuracy cost in MDD patients, but reduced incongruence effect on reaction time in lonelier individuals. When performing the Stroop task, loneliness positively predicted prefrontal-anterior cingulate-parietal connectivity across all participants, whereas MDD patients showed a decrease in connectivity compared to controls. Furthermore, loneliness negatively predicted parietal and cerebellar activities in MDD patients, but positively predicted the same activities in HCs. During resting state, MDD patients showed reduced parietal-anterior cingulate connectivity, which again positively correlated with loneliness in this group. CONCLUSIONS We speculate the distinct neurocognitive profile of loneliness might indicate increase in both bottom-up attention and top-down executive control functions. However, the upregulated cognitive control processes in lonely individuals may eventually become exhausted, which may in turn predispose to MDD onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Ho-Ling Liu
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- College of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Liang Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Mengxia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Shwu-Hua Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Chemin Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung City, Taiwan
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China
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28
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Abstract
The problem of loneliness is receiving increasing attention in the popular media and among social scientists. Despite anthropology's rich engagement with emotions and experience, the anthropology of loneliness is still scant. In psychology, loneliness has been defined as relational lack. In this article, I reconsider one culturally specific form of relational lack-being unneeded among post-Soviet Muscovites. I draw on the anthropological literature on emotion, exchange, and morality to suggest that being unneeded is an ethical commentary on a lack of recognition. During Soviet times, recognition was secured through informal social exchange practices. Being unneeded among middle-aged and elderly post-Soviet Muscovites is therefore connected to a constricted ability to give and experience recognition. One avenue of analysis for an anthropology of loneliness is to consider social exchange practices and how these connect with societal and moral dimensions of loneliness.
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29
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López-Carral H, Grechuta K, Verschure PFMJ. Subjective ratings of emotive stimuli predict the impact of the COVID-19 quarantine on affective states. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237631. [PMID: 32790759 PMCID: PMC7425917 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis resulted in a large proportion of the world's population having to employ social distancing measures and self-quarantine. Given that limiting social interaction impacts mental health, we assessed the effects of quarantine on emotive perception as a proxy of affective states. To this end, we conducted an online experiment whereby 112 participants provided affective ratings for a set of normative images and reported on their well-being during COVID-19 self-isolation. We found that current valence ratings were significantly lower than the original ones from 2015. This negative shift correlated with key aspects of the personal situation during the confinement, including working and living status, and subjective well-being. These findings indicate that quarantine impacts mood negatively, resulting in a negatively biased perception of emotive stimuli. Moreover, our online assessment method shows its validity for large-scale population studies on the impact of COVID-19 related mitigation methods and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor López-Carral
- Laboratory of Synthetic, Perceptive, Emotive and Cognitive Systems (SPECS), Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Klaudia Grechuta
- Laboratory of Synthetic, Perceptive, Emotive and Cognitive Systems (SPECS), Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul F. M. J. Verschure
- Laboratory of Synthetic, Perceptive, Emotive and Cognitive Systems (SPECS), Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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30
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Counts CJ, John-Henderson NA. Risk in childhood family environments and loneliness in college students: Implications for health. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2020; 68:381-386. [PMID: 30681936 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1557198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate associations between risk in family environments and health-relevant outcomes in college and the role of loneliness. Participants: College students at a state university (N = 360). Methods: We utilized linear regression to examine relationships between risk in family environments and loneliness, perceived stress, affect, and self-rated health. We tested for indirect effects of risk in family environments on outcomes through loneliness Results: Analyses showed that risk in family environments associated with loneliness (β = 0.12 t[358] = 2.22, p = .03, R2 change = .02), perceived social stress (β = 0.20, t[357] = 3.88, p < 0.001, R2 change = .04), negative and positive affect (β = 2.44, t[357] = 3.95, p < .001, R2 change = .04), and (β = -0.18 t[357]= -3.44, p = .001, R2 change = .03 respectively), and self-rated health (β = 0.19, t[359] = 4.57, p < .001, R2 change = .10). Significant indirect effects were observed for risk in early family on all outcomes through loneliness. Conclusion: These findings provide initial evidence that risk in childhood family environments may negatively affect health by increasing loneliness in college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory J Counts
- Department of Psychology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
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31
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Mwilambwe-Tshilobo L, Ge T, Chong M, Ferguson MA, Misic B, Burrow AL, Leahy RM, Spreng RN. Loneliness and meaning in life are reflected in the intrinsic network architecture of the brain. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 14:423-433. [PMID: 30924854 PMCID: PMC6523421 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Social relationships imbue life with meaning, whereas loneliness diminishes one's sense of meaning in life. Yet the extent of interdependence between these psychological constructs remains poorly understood. We took a multivariate network approach to examine resting-state fMRI functional connectivity’s association with loneliness and meaning in a large cohort of adults (N = 942). Loneliness and meaning in life were negatively correlated with one another. In their relationship with individually parcelled whole-brain measures of functional connectivity, a significant and reliable pattern was observed. Greater loneliness was associated with dense, and less modular, connections between default, frontoparietal, attention and perceptual networks. A greater sense of life meaning was associated with increased, and more modular, connectivity between default and limbic networks. Low loneliness was associated with more modular brain connectivity, and lower life meaning was associated with higher between-network connectivity. These findings advance our understanding of loneliness and life meaning as distinct, yet interdependent, features of sociality. The results highlight a potential role of the default network as a central hub, providing a putative neural mechanism for shifting between feelings of isolation and purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tian Ge
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Minqi Chong
- Department of Electrical Engineering-Systems, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Ferguson
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bratislav Misic
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anthony L Burrow
- Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Richard M Leahy
- Department of Electrical Engineering-Systems, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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32
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Feng C, Wang L, Li T, Xu P. Connectome-based individualized prediction of loneliness. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 14:353-365. [PMID: 30874805 PMCID: PMC6523423 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is an increasingly prevalent condition linking with enhanced morbidity and premature mortality. Despite recent proposal on medicalization of loneliness, so far no effort has been made to establish a model capable of predicting loneliness at the individual level. Here, we applied a machine-learning approach to decode loneliness from whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC). The relationship between whole-brain RSFC and loneliness was examined in a linear predictive model. The results revealed that individual loneliness could be predicted by within- and between-network connectivity of prefrontal, limbic and temporal systems, which are involved in cognitive control, emotional processing and social perceptions and communications, respectively. Key nodes that contributed to the prediction model comprised regions previously implicated in loneliness, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, lateral orbital frontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, caudate, amygdala and temporal regions. Our findings also demonstrated that both loneliness and associated neural substrates are modulated by levels of neuroticism and extraversion. The current data-driven approach provides the first evidence on the predictive brain features of loneliness based on organizations of intrinsic brain networks. Our work represents initial efforts in the direction of making individualized prediction of loneliness that could be useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunliang Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Center for Neuroimaging, Shenzhen Institute of Neuroscience, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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33
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Wong NML, Shao R, Wu J, Tao J, Chen L, Lee TMC. Cerebellar neural markers of susceptibility to social isolation and positive affective processing. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:3339-3351. [PMID: 31701265 PMCID: PMC6875157 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01965-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic loneliness predicts mood disturbances and onset of major depressive disorder. However, little research has examined the neural correlates of individual difference in susceptibility to perceiving loneliness. In addition, the role of cerebellum, which is heavily implicated in social, cognitive and affective processes, in loneliness is unclear. We studied 99 healthy individuals divided into susceptible, concordant and robust groups depending on whether the participant’s loneliness level was greater, comparable or less than her/his objective social isolation level. The cerebellar gray matter structure, functional activity and connectivity patterns during performing an emotion stroop task were examined. We found greater posterior and medial cerebellar volume in the susceptible group than the other groups. In addition, the posterior and medial cerebellar activities when processing positive versus neutral words exhibited significant interactive effects of both loneliness and social network, and susceptibility to isolation. Loneliness and social network also had positive effects on the right posterior cerebellar functional connectivity with the visual and premotor cortices. Our findings provide novel evidence on the intricate role of the cerebellum in loneliness and susceptibility to isolation, suggesting that socio-cognitive processes of the cerebellum in the hedonic domain may be a key mechanism underlying loneliness proneness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichol M L Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robin Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jingsong Wu
- Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Tao
- Rehabilitation Medicine College, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lidian Chen
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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34
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Wong NML, Shao R, Yeung PPS, Khong PL, Hui ES, Schooling CM, Leung GM, Lee TMC. Negative Affect Shared with Siblings is Associated with Structural Brain Network Efficiency and Loneliness in Adolescents. Neuroscience 2019; 421:39-47. [PMID: 31678342 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness has a strong neurobiological basis reflected by its specific relationships with structural brain connectivity. Critically, affect traits are highly related to loneliness, which shows close association with the onset and severity of major depressive disorder. This diffusion imaging study was conducted on a sample of adolescent siblings to examine whether positive and negative affect traits were related to loneliness, with brain network efficiency playing a mediating role. The findings of this study confirmed that both global and average local efficiency negatively mediated the association between low positive affect and high negative affect and loneliness, and the mediation was more sensitive to sibling-shared affect traits. The findings have important implications for interventions targeted at reducing the detrimental impact of familiar negative emotional experiences and loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichol M L Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Patcy P S Yeung
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Pek-Lan Khong
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Edward S Hui
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | | | - Gabriel M Leung
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Laboratory of Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, China.
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35
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High prevalence and adverse health effects of loneliness in community-dwelling adults across the lifespan: role of wisdom as a protective factor. Int Psychogeriatr 2019; 31:1447-1462. [PMID: 30560747 PMCID: PMC6581650 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610218002120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study of loneliness across adult lifespan examined its associations with sociodemographics, mental health (positive and negative psychological states and traits), subjective cognitive complaints, and physical functioning. DESIGN Analysis of cross-sectional data. PARTICIPANTS 340 community-dwelling adults in San Diego, California, mean age 62 (SD = 18) years, range 27-101 years, who participated in three community-based studies. MEASUREMENTS Loneliness measures included UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 (UCLA-3), 4-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Isolation Scale, and a single-item measure from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Other measures included the San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE) and Medical Outcomes Survey- Short form 36. RESULTS Seventy-six percent of subjects had moderate-high levels of loneliness on UCLA-3, using standardized cut-points. Loneliness was correlated with worse mental health and inversely with positive psychological states/traits. Even moderate severity of loneliness was associated with worse mental and physical functioning. Loneliness severity and age had a complex relationship, with increased loneliness in the late-20s, mid-50s, and late-80s. There were no sex differences in loneliness prevalence, severity, and age relationships. The best-fit multiple regression model accounted for 45% of the variance in UCLA-3 scores, and three factors emerged with small-medium effect sizes: wisdom, living alone and mental well-being. CONCLUSIONS The alarmingly high prevalence of loneliness and its association with worse health-related measures underscore major challenges for society. The non-linear age-loneliness severity relationship deserves further study. The strong negative association of wisdom with loneliness highlights the potentially critical role of wisdom as a target for psychosocial/behavioral interventions to reduce loneliness. Building a wiser society may help us develop a more connected, less lonely, and happier society.
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36
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Prendergast CN, Haahjem Eftedal N, Fredriksen Ikonomeas AG, Brun A, Huth H, Bredesen M. The Norwegian version of the five factor narcissism inventory for vulnerable narcissism and the grandiose narcissism subscale of indifference: Psychometric properties of the long- and short-form versions. Scand J Psychol 2019; 60:492-500. [PMID: 31402468 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, narcissism has been reconceptualized as a multi-dimensional feature of human psychology. The Five Factor Narcissism Inventory (FFNI) has been proposed as a measure for two distinguishable dimensions of narcissism: Vulnerable and Grandiose (Glover, Miller, Lynam, Crego & Widiger, 2012). To investigate the role that some of these factors may have in moderating responses to cues of social exclusion, implemented in a connected laboratory experiment, we translated the subscales for Vulnerable Narcissism and the Grandiose Narcissism subscale of Indifference from English into Norwegian and included them in an online survey that was used to recruit and pre-screen participants for the laboratory experiment. In this paper, we test the psychometric properties of these translated self-report measures, in what amounted to be a diverse sample of the Norwegian population. We perform reliability tests and confirmatory factor analysis on the long- and short-form versions of FFNI Vulnerable Narcissism and the Grandiose Narcissism subscale of Indifference. We further test the criterion validity of these measures by way of correlational analyses with other theoretically relevant measures. We conclude that the Norwegian short-form versions of FFNI Vulnerable Narcissism and Grandiose Narcissism subscale of Indifference exhibit good psychometric properties in our data and propose that the translated scales can now be used to explore these constructs in clinical and non-clinical populations in Norway, and can be easily adapted for use in other Scandinavian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Aurora Brun
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håkon Huth
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marit Bredesen
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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37
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Lai H, Wang S, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Yang C, Gong Q. Brain gray matter correlates of extraversion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:4038-4057. [PMID: 31169966 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Extraversion is a fundamental personality dimension closely related to an individual's life outcomes and mental health. Although an increasing number of studies have attempted to identify the neurostructural markers of extraversion, the results have been highly inconsistent. The current study aimed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of brain gray matter (GM) correlates of extraversion with a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Our review showed relatively high interstudy heterogeneity among previous findings. Our meta-analysis of whole-brain voxel-based morphometry studies revealed that extraversion was stably associated with six core brain regions. Additionally, meta-regression analyses identified brain regions where the associations of extraversion with GM volume were modulated by gender and age. The relationships between extraversion and GM structures were discussed based on three extraversion-related functional systems. Furthermore, we explained the gender and age effects. Overall, our study is the first to reveal a comprehensive picture of brain GM correlates of extraversion, and the findings may be useful for the selection of targeted brain areas for extraversion interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Lai
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Song Wang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Psychoradiology, Chengdu Mental Health Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajun Zhao
- School of Sociology and Psychology, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Psychoradiology Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Psychoradiology, Chengdu Mental Health Center, Chengdu, China
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38
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Olié E, Courtet P. Interest of neuroimaging of social exclusion in suicide. J Neurosci Res 2018; 98:581-587. [PMID: 30171628 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
With one million deaths worldwide, suicide is a major health issue. The frequency of life events preceding suicidal act is high and raises the question of their role in suicidal process. At biological level, dysfunctional neural processing of social exclusion may participate in suicidal risk through an increased perception of social adversity in vulnerable subjects. The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss neuroimaging findings related to social exclusion and loneliness, and to open new perspectives to investigate sensitivity to social stress in suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Olié
- Department of Emergency Psychiatry & Post Acute Care, Academic hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier University, & INSERM U1061, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Courtet
- Department of Emergency Psychiatry & Post Acute Care, Academic hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier University, & INSERM U1061, Montpellier, France
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39
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Boksa P, Joober R. Who should be "controls" in studies on the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders? J Psychiatry Neurosci 2018; 43. [PMID: 30125246 PMCID: PMC6158024 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.180128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Boksa
- From the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada
| | - Ridha Joober
- From the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada
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40
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Abdellaoui A, Chen HY, Willemsen G, Ehli EA, Davies GE, Verweij KJH, Nivard MG, de Geus EJC, Boomsma DI, Cacioppo JT. Associations between loneliness and personality are mostly driven by a genetic association with Neuroticism. J Pers 2018; 87:386-397. [PMID: 29752830 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Loneliness is an aversive response to a discrepancy between desired and actual social relationships and correlates with personality. We investigate the relationship of loneliness and personality in twin family and molecular genetic data. METHOD Phenotypic correlations between loneliness and the Big Five personality traits were estimated in 29,625 adults, and in a group with genome-wide genotype data (N = 4,222), genetic correlations were obtained. We explored whether genetic correlations may reflect causal relationships by investigating within monozygotic twin pair differences (Npairs = 2,662), by longitudinal within-subject changes in personality and loneliness (N = 4,260-9,238 longitudinal comparisons), and by longitudinal cross-lagged panel analyses (N = 15,628). Finally, we tested whether genetic correlations were due to cross-trait assortative mating (Nspouse pairs = 4,436). RESULTS The strongest correlations with loneliness were observed for Neuroticism (r = .55) and Extraversion (r = -.33). Only Neuroticism showed a high correlation with loneliness independent of other personality traits (r = .50), so follow-up analyses focused on Neuroticism. The genetic correlation between loneliness and Neuroticism from genotyped variants was .71; a significant reciprocal causal relationship and nonsignificant cross-trait assortative mating imply that this is at least partly due to mediated pleiotropy. CONCLUSIONS We show that the relationship between loneliness and personality is largely explained by its relationship with Neuroticism, which is substantially genetic in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Abdellaoui
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hsi-Yuan Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Gonneke Willemsen
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Erik A Ehli
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Gareth E Davies
- Avera Institute for Human Genetics, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Karin J H Verweij
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michel G Nivard
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eco J C de Geus
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dorret I Boomsma
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - John T Cacioppo
- Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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41
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Canli T, Yu L, Yu X, Zhao H, Fleischman D, Wilson RS, De Jager PL, Bennett DA. Loneliness 5 years ante-mortem is associated with disease-related differential gene expression in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:2. [PMID: 29317593 PMCID: PMC5802527 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0086-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Subjective social isolation, loneliness, is associated with poor mental and physical health, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we analyzed loneliness data collected on average 5 years ante-mortem and RNA gene expression at death in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) from 181 participants in the Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP), a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of common chronic conditions of aging. Our analytic protocol controlled for biographical variables (age, sex, education), psychological and health variables (depressive symptoms, interval between assessment and autopsy, slope of cognitive decline, AD pathology, presence of infarcts) and RNA integrity. Our results are based on a pre-ranked Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) at FDR-corrected q-values <0.05, using these collections from the Molecular Signatures Database (v6.0 MSigDB): (1) Hallmarks, (2) Canonical, (3) Gene Ontology (GO), (4) Chemical and Genetic Perturbations, (5) Immunologic Signatures, (6) Oncogenic Signatures, and (7) Cancer Modules. We now report on 337 up-regulated and 43 down-regulated gene sets, among which the most significant ones were associated with Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric illness, immune dysfunction, and cancer. These gene sets constitute attractive targets for future studies into the molecular mechanisms by which loneliness exacerbates a wide range of neurodegenerative, psychiatric, and somatic illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turhan Canli
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Lei Yu
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Biostatistics Department, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Biostatistics Department, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Debra Fleischman
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Robert S Wilson
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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42
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Tanaka Y, Nishi Y, Nishi Y, Osumi M, Morioka S. Uncovering the influence of social skills and psychosociological factors on pain sensitivity using structural equation modeling. J Pain Res 2017; 10:2223-2231. [PMID: 28979161 PMCID: PMC5602447 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s143342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is a subjective emotional experience that is influenced by psychosociological factors such as social skills, which are defined as problem-solving abilities in social interactions. This study aimed to reveal the relationships among pain, social skills, and other psychosociological factors by using structural equation modeling. A total of 101 healthy volunteers (41 men and 60 women; mean age: 36.6±12.7 years) participated in this study. To evoke participants’ sense of inner pain, we showed them images of painful scenes on a PC screen and asked them to evaluate the pain intensity by using the visual analog scale (VAS). We examined the correlation between social skills and VAS, constructed a hypothetical model based on results from previous studies and the current correlational analysis results, and verified the model’s fit using structural equation modeling. We found significant positive correlations between VAS and total social skills values, as well as between VAS and the “start of relationships” subscales. Structural equation modeling revealed that the values for “start of relationships” had a direct effect on VAS values (path coefficient =0.32, p<0.01). In addition, the “start of relationships” had both a direct and an indirect effect on psychological factors via social support. The results indicated that extroverted people are more sensitive to inner pain and tend to get more social support and maintain a better psychological condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Tanaka
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University.,Department of Rehabilitation, Nara Prefecture General Rehabilitation Center
| | - Yuki Nishi
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University
| | - Yuki Nishi
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University
| | - Michihiro Osumi
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Research Center, Kio University, Nara, Japan
| | - Shu Morioka
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University.,Department of Neurorehabilitation Research Center, Kio University, Nara, Japan
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43
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Perceived social isolation is associated with altered functional connectivity in neural networks associated with tonic alertness and executive control. Neuroimage 2017; 145:58-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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44
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Wong NML, Yeung PPS, Lee TMC. A developmental social neuroscience model for understanding loneliness in adolescence. Soc Neurosci 2016; 13:94-103. [PMID: 27820680 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2016.1256832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness is prevalent in adolescents. Although it can be a normative experience, children and adolescents who experience loneliness are often at risk for anxiety, depression, and suicide. Research efforts have been made to identify the neurobiological basis of such distressful feelings in our social brain. In adolescents, the social brain is still undergoing significant development, which may contribute to their increased and differential sensitivity to the social environment. Many behavioral studies have shown the significance of attachment security and social skills in adolescents' interactions with the social world. In this review, we propose a developmental social neuroscience model that extends from the social neuroscience model of loneliness. In particular, we argue that the social brain and social skills are both important for the development of adolescents' perceived loneliness and that adolescents' familial attachment sets the baseline for neurobiological development. By reviewing the related behavioral and neuroimaging literature, we propose a developmental social neuroscience model to explain the heightened perception of loneliness in adolescents using social skills and attachment style as neurobiological moderators. We encourage future researchers to investigate adolescents' perceived social connectedness from the developmental neuroscience perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichol M L Wong
- a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.,b Laboratory of Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.,c Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Patcy P S Yeung
- d Faculty of Education , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Tatia M C Lee
- a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.,b Laboratory of Social Cognitive Affective Neuroscience , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.,c Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.,e The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
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45
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Amplitude of low-frequency oscillations associated with emotional conflict control. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:2561-6. [PMID: 27142051 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Previous fMRI studies related to emotional conflict focused on task activation during the specific experimental paradigm. Yet, the underlying spontaneous neural activity was largely unknown. Here, this was the first study using resting-state fMRI to explore the spontaneous neural activity related to emotional conflict. We used the whole-brain analysis to investigate the association between emotional conflict and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in a large sample. We found that the emotional conflict effect was negatively correlated with ALFF in the right AMY. These findings implied that AMY was the key region which plays a crucial role in emotional conflict.
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46
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Lan CC, Tsai SJ, Huang CC, Wang YH, Chen TR, Yeh HL, Liu ME, Lin CP, Yang AC. Functional Connectivity Density Mapping of Depressive Symptoms and Loneliness in Non-Demented Elderly Male. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 7:251. [PMID: 26793101 PMCID: PMC4709793 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Depression and loneliness are prevalent and highly correlated phenomena among the elderly and influence both physical and mental health. Brain functional connectivity changes associated with depressive symptoms and loneliness are not fully understood. Methods: A cross-sectional functional MRI study was conducted among 85 non-demented male elders. Geriatric depression scale-short form (GDS) and loneliness scale were used to evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms and loneliness, respectively. Whole brain voxel-wise resting-state functional connectivity density (FCD) mapping was performed to delineate short-range FCD (SFCD) and long-range FCD (LFCD). Regional correlations between depressive symptoms or loneliness and SFCD or LFCD were examined using general linear model (GLM), with age incorporated as a covariate and depressive symptoms and loneliness as predictors. Results: Positive correlations between depressive symptoms and LFCD were observed in left rectal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, right supraorbital gyrus, and left inferior temporal gyrus. Positive correlations between depressive symptoms and SFCD were observed in left middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, bilateral superior medial frontal gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, and left middle occipital region. Positive correlations between SFCD and loneliness were centered over bilateral lingual gyrus. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms are associated with FCD changes over frontal and temporal regions, which may involve the cognitive control, affective regulation, and default mode networks. Loneliness is associated with FCD changes in bilateral lingual gyri that are known to be important in social cognition. Depressive symptoms and loneliness may be associated with different brain regions in non-demented elderly male.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chia Lan
- Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General HospitalTaichung, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming UniversityTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming UniversityTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chung Huang
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hsiu Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming UniversityTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Tong-Ru Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming UniversityTaipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Mu-En Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming UniversityTaipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Albert C Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General HospitalTaipei, Taiwan; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming UniversityTaipei, Taiwan; Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central UniversityChungli, Taiwan; Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Biotechnology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, MA, USA
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Liu H, Wang Y, Liu W, Wei D, Yang J, Du X, Tian X, Qiu J. Neuroanatomical correlates of attitudes toward suicide in a large healthy sample: A voxel-based morphometric analysis. Neuropsychologia 2015; 80:185-193. [PMID: 26593961 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 10/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that permissive attitudes toward suicide are positively associated with mental illness (e.g., depression and loneliness). Evidence suggests that there are abnormalities in the cognitive and brain functioning of suicidal patients. Nevertheless, there has been no evidence of the correlation between attitudes toward suicide and abnormal brain structure variations in healthy people. Therefore, in this study, we seek to investigate the neuroanatomical differences in healthy participants with regard to attitudes toward suicide. The results show that permissive attitudes toward suicide were significantly correlated with gray matter volume (GMV) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the left cerebellum in the large sample (n=405), which may be related to inefficient inhibitory control of negative emotion. Then, in a subset of healthy individuals with permissive attitudes (n=113), we also observed that stronger permissive attitudes toward suicide were positively related to the larger GMV in the left DLPFC and the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), which may be associated with sensitivity of emotional feeling. Furthermore, loneliness had a mediating effect on the relation between the DLPFC volume and attitudes toward suicide. Taken together, neuroanatomical differences in healthy participants with permissive attitudes toward suicide may provide a better understanding of permissive attitudes toward suicide as a likely risk factor for suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yongchao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Junyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xue Du
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xue Tian
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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