“Lonely people process the world idiosyncratically, which may contribute to the reduced sense of being understood that often accompanies loneliness,” the researchers said in the study. “

In other words, we found that nonlonely individuals were very similar to each other in their neural responses, whereas lonely individuals were remarkably dissimilar to each other and to their nonlonely peers.”

Cacioppo says it’s not uncommon for people to mask in the company of others when they don’t feel a sense of connection.

“Masking is totally understandable from a neuroscientific perspective,” she says. “The best solution is to stay authentic.

Authenticity is the key to connectivity. Building connections with people while staying true to yourself can be a buffer against loneliness.”