Although the need for social connection is critical for early social development as well as for psychological well-being throughout the lifespan, relatively little is known about the neural processes involved in maintaining social connections. The following review summarizes what is known regarding the neural correlates underlying feeling of "social pain," the painful experiences associated with social estrangement or loss, which may be critical for motivating social connection. Using this general framework, the review then specifies the ways in which neuroimaging may provide insight into the development of these neural systems in humans. To this end, the review elaborates on the specific types of questions that are best addressed using neuroimaging techniques and examines several lines of inquiry within the developmental literature that may be aided by these methods.