A new study suggests that 'solitude' during adolescence affects brain development. Adolescents who avoid peer relationships or prefer to be alone were found to have structural differences and weakened connectivity in brain regions responsible for key cognitive functions such as social information processing, emotional regulation, and decision-making.
Katerina Stamoulis, a professor at Boston Children's Hospital in the U.S., published these findings in the international academic journal 'Cerebral Cortex' on the 2nd (local time). "We confirmed that changes in brain development influenced by adolescent solitude can lead to altered social behaviors and mental health risk factors," the research team stated. "This reveals that social isolation is not merely a personality trait but a significant factor that influences the course of brain development."
This research was conducted using data from the 'Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD)' study, supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The team analyzed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans of approximately 3,000 adolescents who frequently withdrew from peer relationships or chose to be alone, based on parent-reported social behavior data.
The results showed that socially withdrawn adolescents exhibited structural differences in areas like the anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex, which process social and emotional information. The functional connectivity between these regions was also found to be relatively weaker.
These changes were not confined to specific areas but were observed across multiple neural networks responsible for various cognitive functions, including social behavior and decision-making. Through this, the research team suggested that social isolation may alter the brain's extensive circuits, potentially acting as a risk factor for mental health issues.
"Social isolation affects not only the brain regions responsible for social functions but also other cognitive processes," explained Professor Stamoulis, the study's lead author. "This can be linked to an increased risk for mental health problems." She added, "While a certain level of solitude is normal during adolescence, persistent and repetitive withdrawal can be a warning sign in the course of brain development."
The research team emphasized that these findings also offer important implications for clinicians. They argue that an adolescent's 'preference for being alone' should not be dismissed as a mere personality trait but recognized as a signal that may require early intervention. They explained that by showing the actual changes occurring in the brain through MRI analysis, it is possible to help parents and medical professionals better understand the significance of the issue.
The team plans to use longitudinal brain imaging and behavioral data from the ABCD study, which is collected every two years, to examine the long-term traces that social isolation leaves on brain development. Through this, they aim to determine how repetitive 'solitude' accumulates its effects on the brain over time and to what extent early intervention can mitigate these changes.
<References>
- doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf260](https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf260
