Lonely individuals have changes in brain structure that may cause them to have trouble with social empathy and self-efficacy.
In previous posts, we have talked about the science behind play and how it is good for us. We have discussed the health benefits of compassion, community engagement, and social connection. What happens when we don’t have the social connection, we are lonely. Researchers have been studying the brain and how it changes when we are lonely. They have even found a connection with loneliness and the part of the brain that processes empathy.
A group of scientists, led by Professor Kawashima, are studying the brain with cutting edge imaging technology. They recently published a paper examining loneliness in young adults and its impact on brain structure. The brain is part of the central nervous system. It runs our body controls our body’s organs and allows us to rapidly respond to changes in our environment. Our brain is made up of a large bundle of cells called neurons. The inside of the brain consists of areas of grey/pinkish color called grey matter and separated by lighter-colored areas called white matter. The grey matter processes information in the brain. White matter is the tissue through which messages pass between different areas of gray matter and is composed of bundles of myelinated nerve cell projections (axons). Myelin (white color) acts as an insulator, increasing the speed of transmission of all nerve signals
[1]. Certain diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease are associated with changes in white matter. Empathy and self-efficacy (confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behavior, and social environment) appear to be critical factors related to loneliness
[2]. Professor Kawashima’s lab found a relationship between reduced white matter in the brain in areas related to self- and social cognition as well as areas associated with empathy and self-efficacy. Another neuroimaging study found that lonely individuals had less grey matter compared to non-lonely individuals, particularly in the area of social perception
[3]. Takeuchi et al found that white matter in the brain was involved in the mediation of empathy
[4]. From this work, we can surmise that lonely individuals have changes in brain structure that may cause them to have trouble with social empathy and self-efficacy. In our society, loss of social connection and loneliness are on the rise. The good news is Play for Peace has thousands of volunteers working around the world connecting with young adolescents and adults and teaching them to connect with others in their community bringing compassion and empathy.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_matter
[2] Nakagawa S, Takeuchi H, Taki Y, et al. White matter structures associated with loneliness in young adults. Scientific Reports. 5: 17001 (2015).
[3] Kanai, R. et al. Brain structure links loneliness to social perception. Curr Biol 22: 1975 (2012).
[4] Takeuchi, H. et al. White matter structures associated with empathizing and systemizing in young adults. Neuroimage 77:222 (2013).
