Neural signals for the control of unintentional race bias David M' Amodio University of Wisconsin Ma

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Neural signals for the control of unintentional
race biasDavid M. AmodioUniversity of
Wisconsin - Madison
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Automaticity and control of race bias

• Stereotypes are automatically activated
• Reflect cultural learning
• Present in virtually all White Americans
• Also present in many nonwhites
• Some situational moderators of activation

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Automaticity and control of race bias

• Effects of stereotype activation may be
  controlled
• Control requires intention and time
• Low prejudice people should exert control
• Control is most effective when allotted adequate
  processing time
• Theories of prejudice control vague regarding
  mechanism
• Many low-prejudice people report that they often
  respond with race bias despite their beliefs

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Dual system model of control

• Monitoring system
• Continuously monitors ongoing behavioral
  tendencies for conflict
• Associated with anterior cingulate cortical
  activity
• When conflict is detected, second system is
  signaled
• Implementation system
• Focuses attention to source of conflict
• Organizes behavior to resolve conflict
• Associated with prefrontal cortical activity

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ACC and PFC
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Error-related negativity (ERN)

• Negative polarity wave
• Occurs approximately with response errors
• ACC neural generator

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ERN neural generator in ACC
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• Why do failures to control race bias occur?
• Monitoring system isnt sensitive to race-biased
  behavioral tendencies
• Monitoring system is sensitive and recruits
  control, but the implementation system is impeded
• E.g., control is not implemented due to
  insufficient processing resources

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Research questions

• Is unintentional race bias a result of
  insensitive conflict monitoring?
• Does motivation moderate ERN activity?
• Do low prejudice people have larger ERNs to
  race-biased errors?
• Is a proneness to race-biased responses among
  low-prejudice people due to a deficit in conflict
  monitoring?

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Gun-tool task
Pattern Mask
Black or White Face Prime
Gun or Tool Target
Pattern Mask
Time
1s
200 ms
200 ms
response

• Black face induces a prepotent gun response
• Greater control is required to respond tool
  after Black face

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Behavioral data Reaction times
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Behavioral data Error rates
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ERNs Tool trials
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ERNs Gun trials
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Role of motivation Prejudice level effects
High prejudice
Low prejudice
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Role of motivation Prejudice level effects
High prejudice
Low prejudice
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Role of motivation Prejudice level effects
Good controllers
Poor controllers
High prejudice
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Role of motivation Prejudice level effects
Good controllers
Poor controllers
High prejudice