Recent studies indicate that social connection is as vital to human health as basic needs like food and shelter. Research led by postdoctoral researcher Ding Liu uncovered a neurological basis for social needs, suggesting that the drive for social interaction may stem from a need to avoid discomfort rather than simply seeking pleasure. This finding could illuminate the connection between mental illnesses, such as autism, depression, and schizophrenia, and the challenges in social engagement, providing insights into both healthy brain states and disorders associated with social context.
What if the desire for social interaction was not driven by wanting to feel good but avoiding feeling bad - as is the case with hunger and thirst?
Gaining a mechanistic understanding of how the brain regulates the urge to be with other people will provide critical information on healthy and diseased brain states associated with social context.
Recent studies on social needs suggest they are similarly important for the health of animals as basic needs like food and shelter.
The inability to engage in fruitful social interactions is one of the most debilitating aspects of mental illnesses such as autism, depression, and schizophrenia.
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