11/10/2025
Shyness May Originate in the Cerebellum
Shyness may have deeper neural roots than previously thought.
A recent study found that the cerebellum’s spontaneous activity is dampened in shy individuals and that the brain’s threat-monitoring system (BIS) plays a key mediating role.
The Behavioral Activation System (BAS), often linked to reward-seeking behavior, showed no such effect.
This suggests that social inhibition is primarily shaped by brain regions involved in avoidance rather than approach.