Loneliness Rewires the Brain, Making Men Drink MoreSocial isolation has long been linked to alcohol misuse. Men tend to drink more than usual when they're alone, while women tend to drink less. Researchers identified a brain mechanism in mice that could explain the difference.
To test this, the mice started out living in groups of three or four. After a few days, they were moved into individual cages and kept alone for up to two weeks.For one hour each day, the animals could choose between two bottles: one with water, one with a 15% alcohol solution. Over time, isolated males drank more alcohol, while isolated females drank less. As the mice made their choice, the researchers tracked which neural pathways were active.
They found that social isolation increased activity in male mice along a pathway connecting the amygdala, which processes emotion, to the prefrontal cortex, which helps control decision-making. In females, activity in the same pathway decreased.
When researchers stimulated this pathway, even males living in groups drank more. When they suppressed it, isolated males drank less alcohol. Human brains and social behavior are far more complex, so researchers will need to confirm the findings in people. But identifying this pathway could help researchers develop more effective treatments for addiction.
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