Social ties and health: a social neuroscience perspective.

TitleSocial ties and health: a social neuroscience perspective.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsEisenberger NI
JournalCurr Opin Neurobiol
Volume23
Issue3
Pagination407-13
Date Published2013 Jun
ISSN1873-6882
KeywordsAnimals, Brain, Health, Humans, Neurosciences, Social Behavior, Social Support
Abstract

Research over the last several decades has shown that the health of the body is intimately tied to the strength of our social connections, but why? This article reviews evidence from affective and social neuroscience suggesting that, because of the importance of social ties for mammalian survival, threats to social connection are processed by some of the same neural regions that process basic threats to survival and consequently trigger physiological threat responses that have negative health implications. Likewise, social support is processed by some of the same neural regions that process safety or protection from basic threats and inhibit these same health-relevant physiological threat responses.

DOI10.1016/j.conb.2013.01.006
Alternate JournalCurr. Opin. Neurobiol.
PubMed ID23395461
PubMed Central IDPMC3664098
Grant ListR01 MH091352 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01MH091352 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States