Isolation - How it Affects Fear Responses and Anxiety

Abstract

Isolation is a common state for many people to feel. Despite this, isolation can have detrimental effects
on people’s emotions and brain. In particular, isolation affects the amygdala, specifically when it comes
to anxiety and fear responses. Researchers have recently become further interested in the effects of
isolation on the brain, especially following the COVID-19 quarantine. Understanding social isolation and
its effects on the brain is crucial to learning more about the sociability of human beings, as well as how
social anxiety can be caused or affected by interactions with others.