Scientists from Sigmund Freud University discovered that although many social media users are sincerely attached to their idols, human brain activity differs when mentioning the names of loved ones and celebrities. The research was published in the journal Brain Sciences.
Twenty-eight volunteers with a mean age of 22 were included in the study. All participants provided lists of names of celebrities, friends, relatives and acquaintances. Selected names were shown in random order and their brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG).
A loved one’s name triggers the same reactions in the brain as their own name. However, the signals triggered by the name of a celebrity or a real friend were quite different.
The scientists noted that the majority of social media consumers display a strong sense of sincere friendship and trust towards the celebrities they follow. This study proves that the human brain can distinguish between a celebrity (one-sided friendship) and a close person (mutual friendship) in real life.