ABSTRACT
This study uses neuroscience technology (fMRI) as a measurement tool to uncover potential links between activity in the amygdala and stereotype activation, particularly as it relates to racial prejudice. That the amygdala has a role in complex high-level social contexts is supported by recent fMRI experiments showing that activation of the amygdala during presentation of pictures of unfamiliar faces differs according to whether the faces are from a racial outgroup or the observers’ own group. This differential amygdala response correlates with implicit evaluations of racial groups. Amygdala activity apparently indexes early, unconscious neural assessment of potential threat associated with unfamiliar members of a racial out-group. During the social categorization task, the contrast showed a significant difference in left amygdala activity and a sub-threshold difference in right amygdala activity during presentation of White faces versus Black faces.
