I work as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychology at the University of Jyväskylä. My research focuses on social perception and emotional reactivity in the context of loneliness. I have experience in cognitive neuroscience and use measures of bodily and brain activity in my work. I am currently leading the Feeling connected - project, which investigates how belonging and loneliness influence emotional responses and reciprocity in face-to-face interaction. The research is funded by the Central Finland Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
Humans have a fundamental need to belong, and loneliness threatens this need, causing distress. Loneliness arises from the perception of unsatisfactory social relationships, activating bodily and mental defenses against social threat. It remains unclear which aspects of social interaction sustain the negative cycle of loneliness. This study, conducted at the Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, examines how reciprocity, emotional reactivity, and interpretations during face-to-face encounters shape the sense of connection and predict loneliness over time. The interdisciplinary research explores social attunement through behavioral observation, autonomic activation, brain activity, and interpersonal physiological synchrony. A longitudinal design and experimental manipulations help identify factors that increase vulnerability to loneliness and hinder the formation of social bonds. The findings will deepen understanding of mechanisms that foster social connectedness.