Understanding how the brain and thinking shape loneliness in adults
Official title: A hierarchical examination of the neural and computational mechanisms underlying loneliness
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11401424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how brain processes and thoughts create loneliness in adults and could help develop ways to reduce loneliness and its health risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $422,500 |
| NIH project number | 5DP5OD037383-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who experience loneliness or social isolation and are willing to participate in brain-behavior studies.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not experience changes in loneliness or may not be eligible for certain study tasks.
What this research studies
The project looks at how people think about social information, learn from social cues, and make decisions about connections, with a focus on how these processes relate to loneliness. Researchers will use brain and behavior studies to map the steps from perception to action in social situations. The aim is to identify patterns that lead to loneliness so future interventions can help people form stronger connections. The work involves adults 21 and older and may include neuroimaging and behavioral tasks to link neural activity with social behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new approaches to reduce loneliness and its health consequences.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows that social information processing relates to loneliness, supporting the potential value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rhoads, Shawn a — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Rhoads, Shawn a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.