Social Isolation: Stress, Cognition, and Connection

This podcast is based on a document that I am in the process of compiling Social Isolation: Stress, Cognition, and Connection.  If you want to know something about FUTURE topics, then you can look at my post on other practical applied cognitive nueroscience topics that I will dive more deeply into in the future ... practical applied cognitive nueroscience is really not about adding things, it's all going to be about REMOVING the bad habits of being myself ... it's all going to be about CAVING IN the MELONS of my personal demons.

Background on Social Isolation: Stress, Cognition, and Connection

Social interaction is a fundamental human need, deeply ingrained in our biology and essential for overall well-being. Social isolation is not a monolithic entity but rather a spectrum of experiences characterized by varying degrees of social disconnection. Perceived social isolation, commonly known as loneliness, represents the subjective feeling of being alone, disconnected, or lacking close, meaningful relationships, but loneliness is an internal PERCIEVED emotional state reflecting a perceived discrepancy between an individual's desired level of social connection and their actual social experiences. The advent of the internet and online environments has introduced a new dimension to social interaction, offering both opportunities and challenges for social connection.

When an individual perceives a stressful situation ... for me there's not much worse than the feeling of LONELINESS I experience whenever I am stranded in a crowd of people and unable to escape to solitude and being alone [a state in which I NEVER feel lonely], ie I'd rather be up on stage naked than surrounded by "loved ones" or friends ... OTHER people actually like being around people -- we're all wired differently ...  the body initiates a complex series of physiological and psychological responses designed to cope with the subconcious danger or perceived threat. The sympathetic-adreno-medullary (SAM) axis is one of the primary systems involved in this stress response ... an immediate and rapid response, often referred to as the "fight-or-flight" response, prepares the body to either confront the perceived threat or escape from it. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis represents another crucial component of the body's stress response system, providing a more sustained and long-term regulatory mechanism. 

Beyond the physiological responses, stress also manifests psychologically, encompassing a range of emotional and cognitive changes. Social isolation has been consistently linked to a state of heightened stress reactivity in individuals across the lifespan. Loneliness and perceived isolation can lead to a heightened sensitivity to social threats and negative social cues.Research has consistently linked social isolation and loneliness to alterations in cortisol levels, a key indicator of HPA axis activity. Social isolation and loneliness also appear to influence how the cardiovascular system responds to stress. 

Cognitive function, the brain's ability to process information, learn, remember, and reason, is a multifaceted construct. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines six key domains of cognitive function: complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor control, and social cognition. Each of these domains encompasses a range of specific mental processes essential for navigating daily life. As individuals age, some changes in cognitive abilities are considered a normal part of the aging process.