Impact Of Social Network Size And Diversity On Resting EEG Patterns

TL;DR

This study explores how the size and diversity of social networks relate to brain activity patterns measured by EEG, finding that higher high beta brain activity is linked to fewer social relationships but lower loneliness.

Contribution

The study identifies novel correlations between high beta EEG power and sociability measures, suggesting a neural basis for social engagement and loneliness.

Findings

Higher high beta power in temporal and temporo-parieto-occipital regions is associated with fewer social relationships.

Participants with higher high beta activity reported lower feelings of loneliness despite having fewer social contacts.

Years of education negatively correlate with social network diversity.

Abstract

Social interactions are integral to human well‐being, affecting cognitive functions, emotional states, and neurological processes. While prior research has assessed the impact of social networks on mental health outcomes, the neural mechanisms underlying these relationships are less understood. By analyzing the Social Network Index (SNI) alongside resting‐state electroencephalography (EEG) data, the study aims to uncover neural correlates of sociability and perceptions of loneliness.

A total of 26 participants (mean age = 21.93 years, SD = 4.83; 73.1% female) were included after screening for the absence of mental illness, neurological disorders, and other exclusion criteria. Participants completed Cohen's SNI and the UCLA Loneliness Scale and underwent a 5‐minute eyes‐closed resting‐state EEG recording using an ANT portable 64‐channel EEG amplifier, sampled at 2000 Hz with a band‐pass filter between 0.1 and 330 Hz. The study received ethical approval from Deusto University's ethics committee.

The results revealed significant correlations between sociodemographic factors, social network measures, and electrophysiological power signatures. Age was negatively associated with the SNI (older participants had contact with fewer people), and years of education were negatively linked to the network diversity component (SNInet), indicating that more educated individuals had less variety in their social circles. Specifically, the SNI correlated negatively with high beta power at temporal regions (S_highβ_T; rho = −0.639, p < 0.001), high beta power at temporo‐parieto‐occipital regions (S_highβ_TPO; rho = −0.674, p < 0.001), and beta power at temporal regions (S_β_T; rho = −0.433, p < 0.05). This suggests that higher high beta activity is associated with a lower volume of social relationships. When dividing participants based on the number of social networks and controlling for age, significant differences were observed in high beta power at temporo‐parieto‐occipital regions (S_highβ_TPO; F(1,22) = 12.75, p < 0.005, partial η2 = 0.367).

The study suggests a relevant role of high beta activity in individuals' sociability and perception of loneliness. Participants with higher high beta power had fewer social relationships but reported lower feelings of loneliness. These findings indicate a complex relationship between brain activity and social engagement, warranting further research to understand the underlying neural mechanisms more specifically.