Neurocognitive Basis of Racial Ingroup Bias in Empathy

Racial ingroup bias in empathy for individuals in pain is characterized by increased neural responses to perceived pain of same-race relative to other-race individuals across multiple brain regions and multiple time-windows, and is evident in multiple ethnic groups. Racial ingroup bias in empathic brain activity is mediated by distinct neurobiological mechanisms related to same-race and other-race pain and is affected by sociocultural and physical environments. Although ingroup bias in empathic brain activity has been widely documented, both laboratory manipulations and real-life interracial experiences can reduce racial ingroup bias in empathy by increasing empathic neural responses to other-race pain. Racial discrimination in social behavior, although disapproved of by many contemporary cultures, has been widely reported. Because empathy plays a key functional role in social behavior, brain imaging researchers have extensively investigated the neurocognitive underpinnings of racial ingroup bias in empathy. This research has revealed consistent evidence for increased neural responses to the perceived pain of same-race compared with other-race individuals in multiple brain regions and across multiple time-windows. Researchers have also examined neurocognitive, sociocultural, and environmental influences on racial ingroup bias in empathic neural responses, as well as explored possible interventions to reduce racial ingroup bias in empathic brain activity. These findings have important implications for understanding racial ingroup favoritism in social behavior and for improving interracial communication. Racial discrimination in social behavior, although disapproved of by many contemporary cultures, has been widely reported. Because empathy plays a key functional role in social behavior, brain imaging researchers have extensively investigated the neurocognitive underpinnings of racial ingroup bias in empathy. This research has revealed consistent evidence for increased neural responses to the perceived pain of same-race compared with other-race individuals in multiple brain regions and across multiple time-windows. Researchers have also examined neurocognitive, sociocultural, and environmental influences on racial ingroup bias in empathic neural responses, as well as explored possible interventions to reduce racial ingroup bias in empathic brain activity. These findings have important implications for understanding racial ingroup favoritism in social behavior and for improving interracial communication. a frontal part along the middle line of the brain that surrounds the frontal part of the corpus callosum and is involved in various types of mental processes, such as error detection, conflict monitoring, first-hand and vicarious pain experiences. a cerebral cortical region folded deep within the lateral frontal part of the brain that is engaged in multiple cognitive and affective processes, such as self-awareness, interpersonal experience, stress, and pain. a change of the relative levels of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin that can be detected using fMRI and is supposed to be associated with functional activity of neuronal populations underlying various mental processes. synchronous activities of neuronal populations engaged in specific psychological processing, which can be time-locked to stimulus events, can be recorded from electrodes over the scalp, and have high temporal resolution. the mental processes that mediate understanding and sharing other individuals’ emotional states. Empathy has been observed in humans and other mammals, such as chimpanzees and rats, and is believed to mediate altruistic behavior. a noninvasive method for recording blood oxygenation level-dependent signals that have high spatial resolution and are used to examine brain responses associated with specific stimuli or tasks. a pattern of behavior or mental (cognitive or affective) process that favors members of one’s ingroup over members of an outgroup and is associated with intergroup conflict and prejudice. a noninvasive method for recording magnetic fields with high temporal resolution that are produced by electrical currents occurring in the brain, using arrays of sensitive magnetometers such as SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices). the medial region of the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in social cognition; the dorsal part is engaged in mental state reasoning and the ventral part is engaged in self-reflection. a neuropeptide of nine amino acids produced in parvocellular neurons of the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is an evolutionarily ancient and conserved hormone and also functions as a neurotransmitter. Oxytocin has been implicated in important reproductive and adaptive functions in animal models, including sexual behavior and pair-bonding, and in social cognition and emotion in humans. a method that produces a magnetic field via a coil to stimulate small regions of the brain, which has been widely used to investigate brain function.