Homeostatic regulation of energetic arousal during acute social isolation-converging evidence from the lab and the field

Abstract

It has been theorised that social contact is a basic need governed by a dedicated ‘social homeostatic’ system. In contrast to other homeostatic systems, such as food intake regulation, little is known about human psychology and physiology under conditions of altered social homeostasis. Here, we investigated the effects of eight hours of social isolation and compared this to eight hours of fasting in a tightly controlled laboratory experiment. Social isolation led to lowered self-reported energy and heightened fatigue, comparable to fasting. To test whether these findings extend from the lab to a real-life setting, we used ecological momentary assessment in a field study performed during COVID-19 lockdown. The drop in energy after social isolation observed in the lab replicated in the field study, suggesting that lowered energy could be part of a homeostatic response to the extended lack of social contact. These findings provide laboratory and real-life insights into the mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of longer-term social isolation.