We tend to express more positive judgments and behaviors toward individuals belonging to our own group compared to other (out-) groups. In this study, we assessed the role of the cerebellum and of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) – two regions critically implicated in social cognition processes – in mediating implicit valenced attitudes toward in-group and out-group individuals. To this aim, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in combination with a standard attitude priming task, in which Caucasian participants had to categorize the valence of a series of adjectives primed by either an in-group or an out-group face. In two behavioral experiments, we found an in-group bias (i.e. faster categorization of positive adjectives when preceded by in-group faces) but no evidence of an out-group bias. Interestingly, TMS over both the dmPFC and over the (right) cerebellum significantly interfered with the modulation exerted by group membership on adjective valence classification, abolishing the in-group bias observed at baseline. Overall, our data suggest that both the dmPFC and the cerebellum play a causal role in mediating implicit social attitudes.

Gamond, L., Ferrari, C., LA ROCCA, S., Cattaneo, Z. (2017). Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and cerebellar contribution to in-group attitudes: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 45(7), 932-939 [10.1111/ejn.13529].

Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and cerebellar contribution to in-group attitudes: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

GAMOND, LUCILE
Primo
;
FERRARI, CHIARA
Secondo
;
LA ROCCA, STEFANIA;CATTANEO, ZAIRA
Ultimo
2017

Abstract

We tend to express more positive judgments and behaviors toward individuals belonging to our own group compared to other (out-) groups. In this study, we assessed the role of the cerebellum and of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) – two regions critically implicated in social cognition processes – in mediating implicit valenced attitudes toward in-group and out-group individuals. To this aim, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in combination with a standard attitude priming task, in which Caucasian participants had to categorize the valence of a series of adjectives primed by either an in-group or an out-group face. In two behavioral experiments, we found an in-group bias (i.e. faster categorization of positive adjectives when preceded by in-group faces) but no evidence of an out-group bias. Interestingly, TMS over both the dmPFC and over the (right) cerebellum significantly interfered with the modulation exerted by group membership on adjective valence classification, abolishing the in-group bias observed at baseline. Overall, our data suggest that both the dmPFC and the cerebellum play a causal role in mediating implicit social attitudes.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
TMS; dorsomedial prefrontal cortex; in-group bias; prejudice; right cerebellum
English
2017
45
7
932
939
none
Gamond, L., Ferrari, C., LA ROCCA, S., Cattaneo, Z. (2017). Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and cerebellar contribution to in-group attitudes: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 45(7), 932-939 [10.1111/ejn.13529].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/145145
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