title: β-Adrenoceptor blockade modulates fusiform gyrus activity to black versus white faces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol is known to reduce peripheral and central activity of noradrenaline. A recent study found that intervention with propranolol diminished negative implicit racial bias.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in order to determine the neural correlates of this effect. Healthy volunteers (N = 40) of white ethnic origin received a single oral dose (40 mg) of propranolol, in a randomised, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled design, before viewing unfamiliar faces of same and other race.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found significantly reduced activity in the fusiform gyrus and thalamus following propranolol to out-group faces only. Additionally, propranolol lowered the implicit attitude score, without affecting explicit prejudice measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that noradrenaline pathways might modulate racial bias by acting on the processing of categorisation in the fusiform gyrus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL48AA, UK, sylvia.terbeck@psy.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terbeck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kahane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McTavish
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hewstone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Savulescu
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Chesterman
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norbury
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001741:Black or African American; D001290:Attitude; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011287:Prejudice; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol