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, , & (2003). Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302: 290-292.
This interesting study investigates the neurobiological basis of social exclusion, which might also be regarded as “loss” or the pain of separation. It involved a functional- imaging investigation of scanned brains of subjects playing “virtual” catch with two others. The participants believed that the images of other characters represented the real players—though the task was run by computer program. The players initially believed that they were part of a group throwing a ball between themselves. However, in an “explicit-rejection” condition, the other (imaginary) players deliberately ignore the participants— rejecting them as they passed the ball between themselves. Unsurprisingly, participants showed feelings of exclusion, measured by self-report, in the “rejection” condition. Critically, activity in the anterior cingulate cortex—an area long known to be associated with feelings of separation and loss—was increased during this condition. The authors also note that this brain area has previously been linked to the experience of physical pain, hence the analogy that “pain” of the social type might be analogous to physical pain. In addition, activity in the right ventral prefrontal cortex was correlated with reduced distress after the rejection. The authors note too that this area has previously been linked with the regulation of (physical) pain. The study is yet another suggesting a role for the anterior cingulate cortex in the attachment process, adding an additional role for the frontal cortex in affect regulation.
, , , & (2003). Exploring the neurological substrate of emotional and social intelligence. Brain, 126: 1790-1800.
Neurological patients with lesions to the ventromesial frontal lobes have long been described as having normal intelligen