The neural substrates of in-group bias: a functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation.
Classic minimal-group studies found that people arbitrarily assigned to a novel group quickly display a range of perceptual, affective, and behavioral in-group biases. We randomly assigned participants to a mixed-race team and used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify brain regions involved in processing novel in-group and out-group members independently of preexisting attitudes, stereotypes, or familiarity. Whereas previous research on intergroup perception found amygdala activity--typically interpreted as negativity--in response to stigmatized social groups, we found greater activity in the amygdala, fusiform gyri, orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsal striatum when participants viewed novel in-group faces than when they viewed novel out-group faces. Moreover, activity in orbitofrontal cortex mediated the in-group bias in self-reported liking for the faces. These in-group biases in neural activity were not moderated by race or by whether participants explicitly attended to team membership or race, a finding suggesting that they may occur automatically. This study helps clarify the role of neural substrates involved in perceptual and affective in-group biases.
Van Bavel
Jay J
JJ
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. cunningham.417@osu.edu
Packer
Dominic J
DJ
Cunningham
William A
WA
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000502:physiology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D012928:Social Desirability; D013240:Stereotyping; D014796:Visual Perception