Study relates social withdrawal in teenage with widespread effects across cognition

A study has related social withdrawal during teenage years with affected decision-making and social behaviour, indicating that the impacts of solitude during developmental years can have widespread effects across one’s cognitive function.

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Youth who preferred solitude were also found to have a more fragile cerebellum -- important in coordinating physical movement, balance and posture.

Findings published in the journal Cerebral Cortex suggest that teenagers who are socially withdrawn show measurable differences in brain structure and function, and that “social isolation in adolescence may be a risk factor for widespread alterations in brain regions supporting social function and mental health.”