The reaction of our brain to situations of isolation

The Brain’s Reaction to Isolation and Its Impact on Cybersecurity Risk

Several weeks into confinement, the effects of isolation are becoming increasingly visible: more fatigue, irritability, and anxiety. Experts warn of the serious consequences this situation may have on the population’s mental health.

Neuroscience Insights on Isolation

According to David Baranger, neuroscientist at the University of Pittsburgh, a study from MIT and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies examined the brain reaction of people subjected to forced isolation.

📊 The experiment:

• Three groups:
  1. Ten-hour fasting
  2. Ten-hour social isolation
  3. Control group (no deprivation)
• Participants were shown photographs of food and social situations.

Findings:

• The brain areas linked to reward mechanisms reacted similarly in the fasting and socially isolated groups when shown what they were deprived of.
• The greater the desire, the greater the brain response.

Extended Isolation: Potential Consequences

If just 10 hours can cause this measurable brain response, what happens after weeks of restricted social contact?

• Social networks may help, but there is no conclusive evidence of their positive impact in extreme isolation cases.
• This crisis combines social isolation with other stressors:
  • Uncertainty
  • Disrupted routines
  • Emotional instability

Connection to Internal Cyber Risk

Over time, these conditions can lead to:

• Demotivation
• Distraction at work
• Increased probability of internal incidents

For companies, this means:

• Maintaining open communication with employees is critical.
• Resolving doubts and providing clarity helps reduce anxiety.

Kymatio’s Approach

At Kymatio, we help organizations:

• Identify the needs of their workforce in real time.
• Design action plans to mitigate internal cyber risk.
• Promote employee wellbeing while strengthening the human firewall.

📌 Contact Kymatio today to start your human firewall activation.