Lateral orbitofrontal cortex activity is modulated by group membership in situations of justified and unjustified violence.
Soc Neurosci
; 13(6): 739-755, 2018 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29022771
The role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in moral decision-making is well established. However, OFC activity is highly context dependent. It is affected by the extent to which choices are morally justified and whom they concern. In the current study, we specifically focus on contextual factors and investigate the differential role of the OFC during justified and unjustified violence towards ingroup versus outgroup members. Muslims were chosen as the outgroup, as they are currently stereotypically seen as an outgroup and a potential threat by some Non-Muslims. Importantly, we also introduce a context where participants are the actual agents responsible for doing harm. During fMRI scanning, Non-Muslim participants had to decide to either shoot a Non-Muslim (i.e., ingroup member) or Muslim (outgroup member) depending on whether they believed the target was holding a gun or an object. Neuroimaging results showed increased activation in the lateral OFC (lOFC) in the three contrasts that were distressing: 1) during unjustifiable killing; 2) when being killed; and 3) when confronted by an outgroup member with a gun. Together, these results provide important insights into the neurocognitive mechanisms involved in intergroup violence and highlight the critical role of the lOFC in context dependent social decision-making.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Estimulação Luminosa
/
Violência
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Córtex Pré-Frontal
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Tomada de Decisões
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Processos Grupais
/
Culpa
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
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Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Soc Neurosci
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália
País de publicação:
Reino Unido