Previous studies reported cultural differences in neural activation for a variety
of cognitive functions including picture encoding, voting behavior, empathy, and
self-representation. Broad consensus exists that culture also asserts a significant
impact on the neural correlates of face processing, particularly regarding activation
of the amygdala, mostly reporting stronger or sustained activation to out-group
faces…
Mounting evidence indicates that humans have significant difficulties in
understanding emotional expressions from individuals of different ethnic
backgrounds, leading to reduced recognition accuracy and stronger amygdala
activation. However, the impact of gender on the behavioral and neural reactions
during the initial phase of cultural assimilation has not been addressed. Therefore,
we investigated 24 Asians students (12 females) and 24 age-matched European
students (12 females) during an explicit emotion recognition task, using Caucasian
facial expressions only, on a high-field MRI scanner.
Analysis of functional data revealed bilateral amygdala activation to emotional
expressions in Asian and European subjects. However, in the Asian sample, a
stronger response of the amygdala emerged and was paralleled by reduced
recognition accuracy, particularly for angry male faces. Moreover, no significant
gender difference emerged. We also observed a significant inverse correlation
between duration of stay and amygdala activation.
In concordance with previous results from our lab on male immigrants and our
hypothesis, bilateral amygdala activation in both samples was observed, confirming
the role of the amygdala as a ‘relevance detector’. The amygdala seems to be
fundamental in emotion processing as a part of the underlying neural network
although gender, socialization and cultural background seem to exert a certain
impact on its activation.
Taken together, this study demonstrates the first attempt to analyze the impact of
gender and culture on amygdala activation during emotion recognition. While we
observed no gender difference, culture and gender of poser asserted significant
effects on the behavioral and neural correlates of this emotional capacity, thereby
extending our knowledge on the bases of emotion recognition differences between
participants with divergent cultural backgrounds.
Culture but not gender modulates amygdala activation during explicit emotion
recognition. Adapted from Birgit Derntl et al. (2012).
Which of the following is the best indicator of successful assimilation?
A) Viewing pictures and encoding them into memories in the same way as
members of the dominant society
B) Voting for the dominant candidate in a political election because the
candidate promises to provide financial benefits to the voter
C) Expressing the same mannerisms when it comes to expressing empathy in
the way that members of the dominant society do
D) Adopting similar manners of self-representation, yet choosing to retain
certain aspects of traditional cultural dress
Correct answer is C
Assimilation refers to the process by which someone who is not originally from the
society or culture of reference gradually begins to adopt the standards, values,
traditions, habits, and activities that are typical of and normative to that society or
culture. Based on this understanding of assimilation, Answer C is the best marker
of successful assimilation among the four options provided. Compared to the
other answers provided, expressing empathy with the same mannerisms suggests
not only an ability to understand the emotional cues of the dominant society, but
having adopted them for oneself. For this reason, Answer C is correct.
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