Does Rejection Hurt? An fMRI Study of Social Exclusion

Naomi I. Eisenberger, Matthew D. Lieberman,

Kipling D. Williams

Tyson Miao

Social bonds are importantEssential for physical and emotional well-

beingSocial attachment system after birth keeps

young near their caregiver a healthy/balanced social life = Happiness

Does social exclusion “hurt”?Many languages use the same words to

describe physical pain and social exclusion. “Heart ache”; “hurt feelings”.

Do physical pain and social exclusion share similar neural mechanism?

Hypothesis The brain regions activated by social pain are similar to those found in previous studies of physical pain.

In particular, this fMRI study focused on 2 brain regions, which have been associated with physical pain

1) Anterior Cingulated Cortex (ACC)2) Right Ventral Prefrontal Cortex (RVPFC)

Anterior Cingulated Cortex (ACC)Act as alarm and monitors conflicts with current

goalPain = “something Wrong” = activate ACCDorsal ACC is activated by the distress

generated by pain, rather than the sensory component of pain Right Ventral Prefrontal Cortex (RVPFC)

Involved in the regulation of pain distressInhibit response to painful stimulation

VPFC has efferent connections to ACC, may partially regulate ACC

Method fMRI scans were acquired while participants played a virtual ball-tossing game under three conditions. I. Implicit social exclusion (ISE)

- Technical difficulty

II. Inclusion/control

III. Explicit social exclusion (ESE) – after participants received 7 throws from 2 other players, the ball no longer passed toward the participants

Method The “2 other players” were computer programs,

although the participants believed they were real.

The order of the conditions was not randomized. It followed 1)ISE 2)Inclusion 3)ESEThis order minimized the residual effect of active

exclusion during ESE

Participants self-reported their distress due to exclusion after ESE

ResultESE vs InclusionDorsal ACC was more active during ESEACC activity positively correlated with self-

reported distress

ResultESE vs Inclusion con’tRVPFC was more active during ESERVPFC activity negatively correlated with self-

reported distress and ACC activationACC activity mediated RVPFC activity, not distress

DiscussionPhysical pain and Social exclusion shares similar

neural mechanism which involve ACC and RVPFCACC is activated by distress, which result in

RVPFC activation. RVPFC then inhibits the response of ACCThis self-regulation only occurred during ESE,

suggesting that conscious awareness may be an essential part of regulation.

Opinion on the PaperStrength

Detailed background Well-versed Interesting study

Limitation Order of condition not

randomized No support for a direct

relationship Paper is unorganized

Future DirectionsComparison of degree of activation during physical

pain and emotional exclusionAnalyze recovery period & susceptibility Investigate other brain regions

Midterm guide Claim: Physical pain and Social exclusion shares similar

neural mechanism which involve ACC and RVPFC

Result: ACC is activated by social exclusion, which result in RVPFC activation. RVPFC then inhibits the response of ACC

Discussion : Self regulation requires awarenessDistress does not activate RVPFCNeed time to recover from emotional distressSocial exclusion hurts

Citation Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., &

Williams, K. D. (2003). Does Rejection Hurt? An fMRI Study of Social Exclusion. Science, 302(5643), 290-292.

Thank You Questions?