Cited by 590Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorHealth disparities and outcomesStress Responses and Cortisol

Social neuroscience and health: neurophysiological mechanisms linking social ties with physical health

Eisenberger, Naomi I, Cole, Steve W·2012·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Although considerable research has shown the importance of social connection for physical health, little is known about the higher-level neurocognitive processes that link experiences of social connection or disconnection with health-relevant physiological responses. Here we review the key physiological systems implicated in the link between social ties and health and the neural mechanisms that may translate social experiences into downstream health-relevant physiological responses. Specifically, we suggest that threats to social connection may tap into the same neural and physiological 'alarm system' that responds to other critical survival threats, such as the threat or experience of physical harm. Similarly, experiences of social connection may tap into basic reward-related mechanisms that have inhibitory relationships with threat-related responding. Indeed, the neurocognitive correlates of social disconnection and connection may be important mediators for understanding the relationships between social ties and health.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nn.3086

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53 of 53 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A biologically plausible pathway exists by which stressors occurring in the social environment may influence inflammatory activity.

    “a biologically plausible pathway exists by which stressors occurring in the social environment may influence inflammatory activity”
  • After years of sustained engagement, these dynamics may confer increased risk for inflammation-related disorders, infection, accelerated biological aging, and early mortality.

    “Finally, after years of sustained engagement, these dynamics may confer increased risk for inflammation-related disorders, infection, accelerated biological aging, and early mortality”
  • Specific groups of older adults who might benefit from targeted loneliness interventions include those suffering from cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as the 'oldest-old' who are at heightened risk for loneliness due to decreasing opportunities for social connection.

    “Specific groups of older adults who might benefit from such interventions might include those suffering from cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as the ‘oldest-old’ who are at heightened risk for loneliness due to decreasing opportunities for social connection [35].”
  • Loneliness is theorized as an adaptive predisposition that drives maintenance of social contact and avoidance of isolation's aversive effects.

    “loneliness is theorized to represent an “adaptive predisposition” providing the motivational drive to maintain social contact and prevent the aversive consequences of isolation14,15.”

    From Neural mechanisms of social homeostasis (2019) · cites this paper as [15]

  • Social isolation may recruit this immune response to prepare an individual for the susceptibilities of being alone, including increased need for rapid inflammatory response to bacterial infections from physical injury and reduced need for protection against socially transmitted viral infections.

    “Social isolation may recruit this response to appropriately prepare an individual for the susceptibilities of being alone, which might include an increased need for a rapid inflammatory response to combat bacterial infections sustained through physical injury, but the reduced need for protection against socially transmitted viral infections15,176.”

    From Neural mechanisms of social homeostasis (2019) · cites this paper as [15]

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Authors
Eisenberger, N. I., & Cole, S. W.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Eisenberger, Naomi I
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2012-04-15
Volume
15
Issue
5
Pages
669-674
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2004697292
Cited by
590
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 10
FWCI
4.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
social connectedness, social disconnection, social ties, physical health, neurophysiological mechanisms, threat processing, reward processing, social neuroscience, health outcomes
MeSH terms
Brain, Brain Mapping, Health, Health Status, Humans, Neurophysiology, Social Behavior

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