An FMRI investigation of attributing negative social treatment to racial discrimination.

TitleAn FMRI investigation of attributing negative social treatment to racial discrimination.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsMasten CL, Telzer EH, Eisenberger NI
JournalJ Cogn Neurosci
Volume23
Issue5
Pagination1042-51
Date Published2011 May
ISSN1530-8898
KeywordsAdult, African Americans, Awareness, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Pain, Prejudice, Race Relations, Reference Values, Rejection (Psychology), Self Concept, Social Isolation, Social Perception, Young Adult
Abstract

We used fMRI to examine the neural responses that occur during experiences of perceived racial discrimination. Previous neuroimaging studies have focused exclusively on the processes underlying racial bias from the perpetrator's perspective and have yet to examine the processes that occur when individuals are being discriminated against. To extend this work, we examined the neural correlates associated with attributing negative social treatment to racial discrimination to explore the cognitive and affective processes that occur as discrimination is being experienced. To do this, we scanned Black participants while they were ostensibly excluded by Whites and then measured distress levels and race-based attributions for exclusion. In response to being socially excluded by Whites, Black participants who appeared to be more distressed showed greater social pain-related neural activity and reduced emotion regulatory neural activity. In addition, those who attributed exclusion to racial discrimination displayed less social pain-related and more emotion regulatory neural activity. The potential negative impact that frequent negative social treatment and discrimination-related distress regulation might have on individuals' long-term mental and physical health is discussed.

DOI10.1162/jocn.2010.21520
Alternate JournalJ Cogn Neurosci
PubMed ID20521861