Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity
Sexism is a widespread form of gender discrimination which includes remarks based on gender stereotypes. However, little is known about the neural basis underlying the experience of sexist-related comments and how perceptions of sexism are related to these neural processes. The present study investi...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/529 |
| _version_ | 1797606252493144064 |
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| author | Michelle Jin Yee Neoh Andrea Bizzego Jia Hui Teng Giulio Gabrieli Gianluca Esposito |
| author_facet | Michelle Jin Yee Neoh Andrea Bizzego Jia Hui Teng Giulio Gabrieli Gianluca Esposito |
| author_sort | Michelle Jin Yee Neoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sexism is a widespread form of gender discrimination which includes remarks based on gender stereotypes. However, little is known about the neural basis underlying the experience of sexist-related comments and how perceptions of sexism are related to these neural processes. The present study investigated whether perceptions of sexism influence neural processing of receiving sexist-related comments. Participants (<i>N</i> = 67) read experimental vignettes describing scenarios of comments involving gender stereotypes while near-infrared spectroscopy recordings were made to measure the hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex. Results found a significant correlation between participants’ perceptions of sexism and brain activation in a brain cluster including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. There was a significant gender difference where female participants showed a stronger negative correlation compared to male participants. Future research can expand on these initial findings by looking at subcortical structures involved in emotional processing and gender stereotype application as well as examining cultural differences in perceptions of gender stereotypes and sexism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:12:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f761565faffe420c8c60e9c4f0cd3455 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:12:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f761565faffe420c8c60e9c4f0cd34552023-11-17T18:31:31ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252023-03-0113452910.3390/brainsci13040529Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal ActivityMichelle Jin Yee Neoh0Andrea Bizzego1Jia Hui Teng2Giulio Gabrieli3Gianluca Esposito4Psychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639818, SingaporeDepartment of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, ItalyPsychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639818, SingaporePsychology Program, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639818, SingaporeDepartment of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, ItalySexism is a widespread form of gender discrimination which includes remarks based on gender stereotypes. However, little is known about the neural basis underlying the experience of sexist-related comments and how perceptions of sexism are related to these neural processes. The present study investigated whether perceptions of sexism influence neural processing of receiving sexist-related comments. Participants (<i>N</i> = 67) read experimental vignettes describing scenarios of comments involving gender stereotypes while near-infrared spectroscopy recordings were made to measure the hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex. Results found a significant correlation between participants’ perceptions of sexism and brain activation in a brain cluster including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus. There was a significant gender difference where female participants showed a stronger negative correlation compared to male participants. Future research can expand on these initial findings by looking at subcortical structures involved in emotional processing and gender stereotype application as well as examining cultural differences in perceptions of gender stereotypes and sexism.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/529perceived sexismgender stereotypesneuroimaging |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Jin Yee Neoh Andrea Bizzego Jia Hui Teng Giulio Gabrieli Gianluca Esposito Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity Brain Sciences perceived sexism gender stereotypes neuroimaging |
| title | Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity |
| title_full | Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity |
| title_fullStr | Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity |
| title_short | Neural Processing of Sexist Comments: Associations between Perceptions of Sexism and Prefrontal Activity |
| title_sort | neural processing of sexist comments associations between perceptions of sexism and prefrontal activity |
| topic | perceived sexism gender stereotypes neuroimaging |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/4/529 |
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