We, Them, or Us? An fMRI study on Superordinate Identity and Self-referential neuroactivity.
Poster No:
633
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Kelly Sng1, Nisha Syed Nasser1, Hsin-Yu Lin1, Gianluca Esposito2, SH Annabel Chen1
Institutions:
1Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore, 2University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Social identity theory posits that individuals categorise themselves and others into in-group (IG) and out-group (OG) (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). In-group faces often evoke more self-referential processing compared to out-group faces (Scheepers et al., 2013; Tropp & Wright, 2001). Superordinate identities – inclusive categories that transcend traditional social groups (Gaertner & Dovidio, 2000) – when salient, can blur intergroup distinctions, encouraging integration of out-group members into a broader sense of self (Wenzel et al., 2007), which can influence neural processing of social stimuli. The Singapore environment with a multi-cultural and ethnic society that emphasises racial harmony enabled investigations into this superordinate identity at the neural level. The present study examines the effects of superordinate (nationality; SG) and subordinate (ethnicity; EN) primes on neural responses to IG and OG faces. We hypothesise that H1) SG primes will elicit more self-referential activity than EN primes (SG>EN), H2) particularly in response to OG faces (OG_SG>OG_EN). Furthermore, H3) SG priming will reduce the neural differentiation between IG and OG faces (OG_SG>IG_EN).
Methods:
Participants underwent fMRI (Siemens 3T) while viewing ethnic IG and OG faces paired with either SG or respective EN primes in visual or auditory modality. The tasks were presented in 2 visual (VP) and 2 auditory (AP) runs, counterbalanced (see Figure 1). VP analysis included 88 Singaporean participants (Mage=24.5, SDage=4.43; Chinese n=30, Malay n=28, Indian n=30), and AP analysis included 92 Singaporean participants (Mage=24.5, SDage= 4.52; Chinese n=30, Malay n=29, Indian n=33). Imaging parameters: EP2D-BOLD (52 axial slices, 3mm-thickness; TR=1500ms; TE=30ms; flip angle=90°; FOV=225mm; voxel size=3x3x3mm, interleaved) and T1-weighted 3D MP-RAGE (176 axial slices, 1mm-thickness; TR=2000ms; TE=2.26ms; flip angle=8°; FOV=256mm). Preprocessing with SPM12: slice-timing correction, realignment, coregistration, normalisation to T1 MNI152, and smoothing with 9mm FWHM Gaussian kernel. Whole-brain analyses using GLM were thresholded at FWE-corrected p<.05, k>10, on the contrasts: SG>EN (H1), OG_SG>OG_EN (H2), OG_SG>IG_EN (H3).
Results:
VP showed increased bilateral precuneus and parahippocampal gyrus activity in SG>EN (H1; Figure 2a), OG_SG>OG_EN (H2), and OG_SG>IG_EN (H3). AP found left temporal gyrus activity in SG>EN (H1; Figure 2b), OG_SG>OG_EN (H2), but no significant clusters in OG_SG>IG_EN (H3). No significant clusters were found in all contrasts in their opposite direction (e.g., EN>SG).
Conclusions:
We observed increased activity in the precuneus and parahippocampal gyrus (for VP) and left superior temporal gyrus (for AP) – key regions within the default network (Gusnard & Raichle, 2001) associated with self-referential processes. This finding aligns with H1, which posited that SG would elicit stronger self-referential processing compared to EN identities. A possible explanation is that a superordinate identity encourages a more inclusive sense of self, thereby engaging brain regions involved in self-related cognition more robustly.
In addition, the results revealed that SG priming may facilitate self-referential processing even for faces typically categorised as out-group (H2), eluding to the potential of a superordinate identity to reduce psychological distance between the self and out-group. Interestingly, while AP supported H3 by showing no difference in activity between superordinate in-group and ethnic in-group conditions, VP demonstrated increased self-referential activity when viewing out-group faces with superordinate primes. This suggests a need for further investigation into relative sensitivity of visual and auditory primes in modulating self-referential processing.
By emphasising the salience of a superordinate identity, our findings offer a potential framework for addressing intergroup conflicts in multicultural societies.
In addition, the results revealed that SG priming may facilitate self-referential processing even for faces typically categorised as out-group (H2), eluding to the potential of a superordinate identity to reduce psychological distance between the self and out-group. Interestingly, while AP supported H3 by showing no difference in activity between superordinate in-group and ethnic in-group conditions, VP demonstrated increased self-referential activity when viewing out-group faces with superordinate primes. This suggests a need for further investigation into relative sensitivity of visual and auditory primes in modulating self-referential processing.
By emphasising the salience of a superordinate identity, our findings offer a potential framework for addressing intergroup conflicts in multicultural societies.
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Self Processes
Social Cognition 1
Social Neuroscience Other 2
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Activation (eg. BOLD task-fMRI)
Univariate Modeling
Keywords:
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Social Interactions
Other - In-Group & Out-Group; Ethnicity & Race; Nationality; Superordinate Identity; Self-referential processing
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Gusnard, D. A. (2001). Searching for a baseline: functional imaging and the resting human brain. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 2(10), 685–694. https://doi.org/10.1038/35094500
Scheepers, D. (2013). The neural correlates of in-group and self-face perception: is there overlap for high identifiers?. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 528. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00528
Tajfel, H. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin, & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33-37). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Tropp, L. R. (2001). Ingroup identification as the inclusion of ingroup in the self. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(5), 585–600. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167201275007
Wenzel, M. (2007). Superordinate identities and intergroup conflict: The ingroup projection model. European Review of Social Psychology, 18, 331–372. https://doi.org/10.1080/10463280701728302