1. Does Rejection Hurt? An fMRI Study of Social Exclusion
Naomi I. Eisenberger,
Matthew D. Lieberman,
Kipling D. Williams
Tyson Miao

2. Social bonds are important
Essential for physical and emotional well-being
Social attachment system after birth keeps young near their caregiver
a healthy/balanced social life = Happiness
Does social exclusion “hurt”?
Many languages use the same words to describe physical pain and social exclusion. “Heart ache”; “hurt feelings”.
Do physical pain and social exclusion share similar neural mechanism?

3. Hypothesis
The brain regions activated by social pain are similar to those found in previous studies of physical pain.
In particular, this fMRI study focused on 2 brain regions, which have been associated with physical pain
Anterior Cingulated Cortex (ACC)
Right Ventral Prefrontal Cortex (RVPFC)

4. Anterior Cingulated Cortex (ACC)
Act as alarm and monitors conflicts with current goal
Pain = “something Wrong” = activate ACC
Dorsal ACC is activated by the distress generated by pain, rather than the sensory component of pain
Right Ventral Prefrontal Cortex (RVPFC)
Involved in the regulation of pain distress
Inhibit response to painful stimulation
VPFC has efferent connections to ACC, may partially regulate ACC

5. Method
fMRI scans were acquired while participants played a virtual ball-tossing game under three conditions.
Implicit social exclusion (ISE)
- Technical difficulty
Inclusion/control
Explicit social exclusion (ESE) – after participants received 7 throws from 2 other players, the ball no longer passed toward the participants

6. Method
The “2 other players” were computer programs, although the participants believed they were real.
The order of the conditions was not randomized. It followed 1)ISE 2)Inclusion 3)ESE
This order minimized the residual effect of active exclusion during ESE
Participants self-reported their distress due to exclusion after ESE

7. Result ESE vs Inclusion Dorsal ACC was more active during ESE
ACC activity positively correlated with self-reported distress

8. Result ESE vs Inclusion con’t RVPFC was more active during ESE
RVPFC activity negatively correlated with self-reported distress and ACC activation
ACC activity mediated RVPFC activity, not distress

9. Discussion
Physical pain and Social exclusion shares similar neural mechanism which involve ACC and RVPFC
ACC is activated by distress, which result in RVPFC activation. RVPFC then inhibits the response of ACC
This self-regulation only occurred during ESE, suggesting that conscious awareness may be an essential part of regulation.

10. Opinion on the Paper Future Directions Strength Limitation
Detailed background
Order of condition not randomized
Well-versed
No support for a direct relationship
Interesting study
Paper is unorganized
Future Directions
Comparison of degree of activation during physical pain and emotional exclusion
Analyze recovery period & susceptibility
Investigate other brain regions

11. Midterm guide
Claim: Physical pain and Social exclusion shares similar neural mechanism which involve ACC and RVPFC
Result: ACC is activated by social exclusion, which result in RVPFC activation. RVPFC then inhibits the response of ACC
Discussion :
Self regulation requires awareness
Distress does not activate RVPFC
Need time to recover from emotional distress
Social exclusion hurts

12. Citation
Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K. D. (2003). Does Rejection Hurt? An fMRI Study of Social Exclusion. Science, 302(5643),

13. Thank You Questions?