# Characterizing the neural mechanisms of social connection

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK · 2024 · $532,023

## Abstract

Project Summary
Social isolation is associated with a host of negative outcomes including increased rates of depression and early
mortality. Critically, social isolation can lead to maladaptive choices such as substance use as a coping strategy
for negative affect. Importantly, perceived connection with others can ameliorate adverse consequences of
isolation, potentially mitigating maladaptive coping mechanisms (i.e., substance use). Indeed, close connections
with others satisfy basic needs of belongingness and are associated with enhancing the reward value of social
experiences as reflected in reward-related neural circuits. While evidence in rodents suggests that the potential
for social interaction decreases the likelihood of substance use, there remains a critical gap in treatment
approaches in enabling substance-dependent individuals to form healthy social connections. This is in large part
due to: 1) neurobiological models of substance abuse have yet to widely integrate social context; 2) dynamic
social interactions are difficult to study in laboratory settings; and 3) a current lack of mechanistic understanding
how social rewards facilitate the development of social bonds.
Our proposal aims to delineate the mechanisms underlying the formation of social bonds as a precursor to
understanding how they may help sway maladaptive behaviors. We suggest that a critical aspect to forming a
social connection is developing a shared interpretation of reality, in which individuals begin to share similar
perspectives and preferences. We test this idea across 3 aims by first characterizing the basic mechanisms
underlying social reward-seeking behaviors using ecologically-valid stimuli (e.g., posting personal photos on
social media). We then use a naturalistic paradigm to create shared affective experiences and examine the role
of communicating shared preferences in forming social bonds in Aim 2. Finally, we recognize that shared
preferences may also make it difficult for behavior to change if such preferences converge on maladaptive
behaviors such as nicotine use. We explore this idea in Aim 3 by examining mechanisms underlying social
reward-seeking in a nicotine-dependent population, while also considering how shared preferences may impact
behavior. Taken together, the proposed studies will use ecologically-valid stimuli and naturalistic paradigms to
delineate the mechanisms of how social rewards, which signal shared preferences, shape social reward-seeking
behaviors, facilitate social connection and may mitigate (or promote) cravings for substances in nicotine users.
Importantly, this work will lay the groundwork for future proposals to investigate the role of the dynamics of social
connection in substance abuse.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10765691
- **Project number:** 5R01DA053311-03
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV OF NJ NEWARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Luke Joseph Chang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $532,023
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-15 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10765691

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10765691, Characterizing the neural mechanisms of social connection (5R01DA053311-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10765691. Licensed CC0.

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