A quantitative meta-analysis of functional imaging studies of social rejection.

TitleA quantitative meta-analysis of functional imaging studies of social rejection.
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsCacioppo, Stephanie, Chris Frum, Erik Asp, Robin M. Weiss, James W. Lewis, and John T. Cacioppo
PubMed ID24002359
PubMed Central IDPMC3761131
Grant ListE15524 / / PHS HHS / United States

Early neuroimaging studies using Cyberball suggested that social rejection activated the pain matrix, as identified in studies of physical pain. However, these early studies were characterized by small sample sizes. Our statistical multi-level kernel density analysis (MKDA) of Cyberball neuroimaging studies with 244 participants fails to support the claim that social rejection operates on the same pain matrix as nociceptive stimuli, questioning whether social pain is more figurative or literal. We also performed an MKDA of the neuroimaging studies of reliving a romantic rejection to test whether the pain matrix was activated if the rejection were more meaningful. Results again failed to support the notion that rejection activates the neural matrix identified in studies of physical pain. Reliving an unwanted rejection by a romantic partner was significantly characterized by activation within and beyond the “Cyberball” brain network, suggesting that the neural correlates of social pain are more complex than previously thought.

Title A quantitative meta-analysis of functional imaging studies of social rejection.
Publication Title Sci Rep
Publication Type Journal Article
Published Year 2013
Authors S. Cacioppo; C. Frum; E. Asp; R.M. Weiss; J.W. Lewis; J.T. Cacioppo
ISSN Number 2045-2322
PubMed ID 24002359
PubMed Central ID PMC3761131
Grant List
E15524 PHS HHS United States

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