Effects of isolation and loneliness on adolescent cognition

CHBH Seminar Series

We are delighted to announce that The Centre for Human Brain Health (CHBH) will welcome Dr Livia Tomova from Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) to present a hybrid CHBH Seminar. 

• Online: Zoom (register for the link)
• In-Person: Strathcona LT2 (G17)

CHBH Host: Dr Lei Zhang.

Abstract

Loneliness and isolation are increasing in societies all around the world, particularly in young people (Hammond 2019, Twenge 2019). Animal research has consistently shown that a lack of social interaction leads to increased reward sensitivity, higher anxiety and inflexibility during learning – particularly during adolescence (Tomova et al. 2019, Orben et al. 2020). Yet, it is unclear how well results from animal models of isolation can be translated to humans. Do social isolation and loneliness in human adolescents cause similar modulations in brain function and cognition?

Previous research in adult humans has shown that acute loneliness affects brain functioning in a similar level as food craving after fasting (Tomova et al. 2020). We assessed how short-term isolation of 3-4 hours affects feelings of loneliness and behavioural measures of reward processing (including reward responsiveness and reward learning) and fear learning in adolescents aged 16-19 years. We also assessed whether access to virtual social interactions mitigates the effects of isolation. We find that short-term isolation affects self-reported feelings of loneliness, reward processing and fear learning in adolescents. Access to virtual social interactions remediates some, but not all effects of isolation. The implications of this research in the light of adolescent loneliness and mental health problems will be discussed.

Biography

Livia is interested in how stress, loneliness and social isolation affect the brain and mind, especially during adolescence. Her PhD research at University of Vienna (completed in 2016) focused on the effects of acute stress on social cognition and the underlying brain processes. Her dissertation received the Austrian Award of Excellence for best Austrian Dissertations in 2016. Livia then completed three years of postdoctoral training in Cognitive Neuroscience at MIT investigating how deprivation of social needs affects the human brain. Livia was awarded a Henslow Research Fellowship at Hughes Hall in 2020 during which she studied the effects of isolation and loneliness on adolescent cognition. She is also interested in investigating whether and how social media can fulfil social needs of young people.