Social animals seek out the company of others because their brains are wired to find it rewarding
Thursday, February 11, 2016 - 15:41
in Psychology & Sociology
Social animals are strongly motivated to seek out the company of others, especially after periods of isolation, because their brains are wired to find it rewarding. A study now reveals a neural circuit that mediates social seeking behavior driven instead by a loneliness-like state. By shedding light on the neuroscience of isolation, the findings could help our understanding of social anxiety and autism spectrum disorders.