Understanding the brain mechanisms behind loneliness
Official title: A hierarchical examination of the neural and computational mechanisms underlying loneliness
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10923384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our brains and thinking affect feelings of loneliness and social isolation, with the hope of finding new ways to help people feel more connected and less lonely.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $405,940 |
| NIH project number | 1DP5OD037383-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who experience feelings of loneliness or social isolation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience loneliness or have no interest in improving their social connections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the neural and cognitive processes that contribute to feelings of loneliness and social isolation. By examining how individuals perceive, learn, and make decisions about social interactions, the study aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms that lead to loneliness. The research will utilize advanced computational models to analyze social information processing and its impact on mental health. Ultimately, the goal is to inform new strategies for improving social connections and reducing loneliness in the population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative interventions that enhance social connections and reduce loneliness, improving overall mental health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding the cognitive and neural basis of social behaviors can lead to effective interventions, suggesting potential success for 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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social virtual reality to tackle loneliness in older men with HIV
A new virtual reality program designed for older men living with HIV to connect with others and reduce loneliness, with the goal of improving health and daily well‑being.
-
ADRD spousal caregivers: real-time loneliness and immune links
A real-world study will follow 300 spouses caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias to understand how loneliness, social isolation, and daily stress relate to immune and cellular aging.
-
Understanding loneliness in stroke survivors to improve care
A study will identify different loneliness risk profiles in adults who had a stroke or TIA to help tailor support and interventions.
-
New daily loneliness indicators and aging outcomes
Researchers are studying how day-to-day loneliness affects aging and health in adults, to uncover how loneliness might speed up biological aging and functional decline.
-
Understanding how the brain and thinking shape loneliness in adults
This grant studies how brain processes and thoughts create loneliness in adults and could help develop ways to reduce loneliness and its health risks.
-
How loneliness and culture shape risky drinking patterns
This grant explores why loneliness and cultural context influence risky drinking, with goals to help people in diverse communities understand and reduce problematic alcohol use.
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.