Despite evidence for the role of nonverbal communication in the evaluation of social interactions, little is known about the mechanisms through which nonverbal behaviors of individuals of different ethnic groups influence such evaluations. Here, Caucasian participants underwent fMRI recording while observing social interactions with ethnically in-group and out-group members displaying approach and avoidance behaviors. Each behavior was preceded or not by a handshake, and was followed by participants’ ratings of the behavior. Brain imaging assessments identified evidence for ethnic in-group biases in evaluating specific nonverbal behaviors, in the absence of differences in the explicit behavioral ratings. First, the amygdala and dorso-medial prefrontal cortex showed sensitivity to in-group approach behaviors relative to control, and positive associations with the ratings for in-group approach behaviors. Second, enhanced functional connectivity between the amygdala and dorso-medial prefrontal cortex further clarified the mechanisms involved in the processing of in-group approach behaviors. Third, the posterior superior temporal sulcus and nucleus accumbens showed sensitivity to in-group handshakes, which was also linked to the positive impact of handshakes on in-group evaluations. Overall, these findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying intergroup social evaluations, and provide evidence for the neural signatures of ethnic in-group biases to approach and expected greeting behaviors.
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Neural signatures of ethnic in-group bias in observing dynamic social interactions
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