"[5] Her award citation noted that "Eisenberger's innovative program of research has brought together neural, experiential, genetic and physiological measures to better define the role that social ties play in individuals’ emotional and physical well-being.
She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at UCLA, where she was mentored by Margaret Kemeny and Shelley Taylor.
Her work in this area has emphasized the profound impact of social relationships on emotional and physical well-being.
Participants were subject to FMRI scans while playing the virtual ball game and experiencing social exclusion, with analyses focusing on activity in the anterior cingulate cortex.
The automatic response caused by physical pain is a frequent activator of the anterior cingulate cortex.