According to Oyefeso, there are three key areas of the brain that are most affected when we experience loneliness – the hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

“The hippocampus has a major role in regulating how we respond to stress, and a review found that people with smaller social circles have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol,” he explains.

“The amygdala, on the other hand, is the region of the brain important for forming memories, and research suggests that people with a busy social life appear to have more volume in this area.”

Oyefeso continues: “Finally, the prefrontal cortex plays an important role in social behaviour, decision making and memory function, and studies suggest the function and volume of this area is reduced without regular social interaction.”

Psychology: what happens inside our brains when we’re feeling lonely?