Neurobiological correlates of social exclusion and social pain

Abstract

Human life is characterized by daily physical and social experiences, emotions, decisions and consequent behaviour. Tere are distributed neural networks, cell-and gene-function that process these in neuroplastic ways. One of the most powerful experiences in life is pain, a complex basic process for survival within an animal and human being, which can be of a physical or social nature. Physical pain is actual or potential tissue damage that causes mostly an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. Social pain is the distress felt due to the actual or potential separation from social peers or negative social comparison. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Vienna.