Sleep loss and lack of social interaction: a summary interview

Abstract

Sleep loss is popular in modern society, and this health problem may further lead to social dysfunctions. In this article, we present some interesting behavioral and fMRI studies in the field of sleep and social functions. In light of these studies, we provide a dynamic framework for understanding the relationship between sleep loss and social interaction. In this framework, four sequential stages construct a life circle of interaction. The effects of sleep loss have distinct functions in each stage and correspond to different brain networks. These functions include the desire for social interaction, social withdrawal, subjective perceptions of social relationships, and loneliness. More importantly, we identify the core behavioral factors may be sleepiness, social-emotional processing, memory control, and rumination. For the brain networks, default mode network, negative affective network, inhibitory control network, and near-space networks may contribute to the relation between sleep loss and social interaction. In the future, experiments based on ecological sampling, and tracking studies based on the life cycle of interaction may be helpful for our understanding of this framework. The applications of some new technologies such as brain stimulation and neural feedback can be taken at different stages of social interactions.

KEYWORDS::

• Sleep deprivation
• social relationships
• social pain
• loneliness
• brain networks

Author contributions

Yiqi Mi: Conceptualization, Writing – Original Draft.

Xu Lei: Writing – Conceptualization, Review & Editing, Funding acquisition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China [2021YFC2501500] and National Natural Science Foundation of China [31971028].