Social Neuroscience Flashcards
How can we use the brain to measure social behavioural processes?
- It is less concerned with complex cognitive processes and theory
- Applies basic cognitive neuroscience to understand the underlying processes of social behaviours (e.g., stereotyping)
What are the advantages of social neuroscience as a way to measure social behavioural processes?
- Allows for measuring processes before and after behaviour
- No social desirability
- Greater accuracy because we’re measuring the exact physiology behind processes
What is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?
- Uses magnetic coil to induce voltage in brain tissue
- Newer, non-invasive technique that can be applied to humans
- Used to demonstrate cause and effect -> Can deactivate areas of the cortex, thus clarifying role of specific areas
What is transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS)?
- Where we put electrical currents through the brain
- Electric currents can either be negative (like TMS) or positive (which induces stimulation)
What is brain imaging/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?
- Scans the radio-frequency waves emitted by hydrogen atoms when they are subjected to a strong magnetic field
- Gives a detailed structure of the brain but it does not tell you which parts of the brain are necessarily active in the moment
What is Functional MRI (fMRI)?
- Using MRI methodology, fMRI indirectly measures brain activity through changes in blood flow that accompanies neural activity
- Measures activation of brain regions during tasks or after perceiving stimuli
What would you expect to see in an fMRI after there is activity in the brain?
- Increase in oxygen consumption in area of the brain that is active
- There is increased blood flow to the oxygen deficient area
- Wherever this increase is found, we assume that part was active
- BOLD -> Blood Oxygen Level Dependent response
Explain dehumanisation
- Outgroups are not believed to share the basic human physical features that characterise the ingroup
- Information about dehumanised groups processed differently
- The brain does not encode them as human beings
- Ex. a white man would most likely be processed/considered as most ‘human’; seeing homeless people differently than how you see your peers
Explain the Ascent Dehumanisation Scale
- Social groups are rated from 0 (Least Human) to 100 (Most Human)
- Used to measure dehumanisation
- Notable to consider social desirability in this situation
Explain the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) in the brain
- Located in the temporal lobe
- Processing facial information
- Damage causes inability to recognise faces, shapes, objects
- Study showed how this area is activated more when met with ingroup compared to outgroup members
What are the negative effects of dehumanisation?
- Severs the empathetic bonds that people usually feel for one another
- Triggers indifference, callousness, and inattention to others’ pain
- Leads to dislike or hatred of dehumanised group
- Moral justifications/exceptions
How does electroencephalogram (EEG) work?
- Records combined activity from many neurons using electrodes
- Best used to detect changes in emotions, motivation or arousal
What are the limitations in how we observe attitudes through behavioural tasks?
- Limited in the ability to capture processes leading up to behaviour
- Outcomes make assumptions about the underlying processes
What are the limitations in how we observe behaviour through self-reports?
It is limited in assessing sensitive topics because of the element of social desirability
What are the limitations in how we observe behaviour through explicit measures?
Unconscious/implicit biases are not always captured, and there is that assumption of underlying processes
What is social neuroscience?
It is the interdisciplinary field that uses the human brain to measure social behavioural processes
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using EEG?
- Good temporal resolution but poor spatial resolution
- Instant neural activity; No idea where it is coming from
How can we measure motivation from the brain?
- Assessed using EEG frequencies
- Observe the difference in activity between the left and right frontal lobes
- Greater LEFT activity = approach (reward)
- Greater RIGHT activity = avoidance (inhibition)
What are Event-Related Potentials (ERP)?
- Pattern of an electrical response recorded after an event, which can include the perception of a stimuli or a response to a stimuli
Why are ERPs important in studying EEG results?
- ERPs are the average of the EEG over several stimulus presentations
- Cancels out the “noise” of the brain’s other activity
- Pattern of activity which represents cognitive process
What is Error-Related Negativity (ERN)?
- Occurs 50-80 ms after response
- Negative deflection
*Greater amplitude after errors
*Index of engagement of inhibition (i.e. shows controlled processes; reflects use of self-control)
HPA Axis
- Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis
- Stimulates sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight)
- SLOW
- Long-term response to stress: 1. Hormones released into bloodstream from pituitary gland, 2. Stimulates hormone release in adrenal glands
What are the functions of cortisol?
- Inhibits insulin (which helps store glucose) -> Promote the release of glucose (blood sugar)
- Narrows arteries (increases blood pressure)
- Epinephrine (adrenaline) released which causes heart to beat faster
- Requires heart to pump blood faster and with more force
When is cortisol usually released?
- Usually temporary under normal circumstances
- Prolonged/chronic stress can extend activation
