SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND
ISOLATION IN THE BRAIN
SOCIAL CONNECTION AND ISOLATION IN THE BRAIN
SOCIAL CONNECTION AND ISOLATION IN THE BRAIN
In our lab we are focusing on the neural mechanisms involved in the regulation of emotional (e.g., social pain, anger and sadness) and behavioral (e.g,. aggression) responses to social exclusion. To do so, we adopt neuromodulatory tecniques, such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to modulate the cortical excictability of brain regions that might be involved in regulatory processes.
John T. Cacioppo claimed that the brain is the organ delegated to create, monitor, cultivate and maintain social connections. Thus, the absence of social connections is reflected on the body as well as on the mind. We owe to John Cacioppo much of the research that highlighted the harmful effects of the lack of social connections on human health (e.g., Cacioppo et al., 2006).
In our lab we are focusing on the neural mechanisms involved in the regulation of emotional (e.g., social pain, anger and sadness) and behavioral (e.g,. aggression) responses to social exclusion. To do so, we adopt neuromodulatory tecniques, such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to modulate the cortical excictability of brain regions that might be involved in regulatory processes.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS THAT DRIVE OUR CURRENT WORK
What are the neural mechanisms underlying the regulation of responses to social exclusion?
What are the individual differences that modulate neurostimulation effects on emotional and behavioral responses to social exclusion?
Which are the neural approaches to reduce dysfunctional responses to prolonged objective and subjective experiences of social exclusion?
Are there any specificities in the activation of neural mechanisms to regulate responses to social exclusion in clinical populations (e.g., people with borderline personality disorder)?