A common brain area for representation of self and ingroup members

Social identity is the part of identity that is derived from membership in
groups and social categories (e.g., gender, ethnicity). The search for positive
social identity is a chief factor in important social phenomena like
stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. Theoretically, social identity has
been conceptualized as *the inclusion of the group in the self*. In the current
work we address the social-neuroscientific basis of this conceptualization, by
borrowing from the literature on *self face recognition*. In this literature,
specific brain regions have been identified that are associated with the
perception of one*s own face. Can it be the case that people who are highly
identified with the group (i.e., for whom the concepts of the self and the
group are largely overlapping) will activate the same brain regions when they
see an in-group member than when they see a picture of themselves? This is the
main question we aim to answer with the current study.

The primary objective of this study is to understand whether there is a common
brain area for representation of the self and ingroup members. To this end, we
will acquire behavioral and fMRI data of 24 healthy students of Leiden
University (aged 18-25 years).

In a pre-study we will invite 50 subjects, take a picture of their face and
measure their ingroup identification. The highest-identifiers (n =12) and
lowest-identifiers (n =12) will be asked to participate in the main experiment.
In phase 1 of the experiment, subjects will repeatedly view pictures of
students* faces unknown to them, and learn which students are from Leiden
University (ingroup) and which from another university (outgroup). In phase 2,
their knowledge of these associations is tested and further strengthened (using
feedback) until they reach a fixed learning criterion. In phase 3, inside the
scanner, subjects again repeatedly view all face pictures, pictures of
themselves, and pictures of a familiar other, while we collect functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals. We will examine contrasts (1) self
vs. familiar other; and (2) ingroup vs. outgroup, evaluate whether these
contrasts yield overlapping brain activations and whether this depends on
subjects* degree of ingroup identification.

There are no known risks associated with participating in an MRI study. This is
a noninvasive technique involving no catheterizations or introduction of
exogenous tracers. Numerous children and adults have undergone magnetic
resonance studies without apparent harmful consequences. Some people become
claustrophobic while inside the magnet and in these cases the study will be
terminated immediately at
the subject's request. The only absolute contraindications to MRI studies are
the presence of metal in the body, like intracranial or intraocular metal, or a
pacemaker. Relative contraindications include pregnancy and claustrophobia.
Subjects who may be pregnant, who may have any metal in their body will be
excluded because of potential contraindications of MRI in such subjects.
Although there is no direct benefit to the participants in the proposed
research, there are possible benefits to society from the potential knowledge
gained from this study: This study will be the first functional imaging study
that compares brain areas that are activated by images of self, ingroup members
and outgroup members.