Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement (PMSM), for Investigating Implicit Social Bias

Mamdooh Afdile; Iiro P. J&#228;&#228;skel&#228;inen

doi:10.3791/60817

Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement (PMSM), for Investigating Implicit Social Bias

JoVE Journal
Neuroscience
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JoVE Journal Neuroscience

Post-Movie Subliminal Measurement (PMSM), for Investigating Implicit Social Bias

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09:03 min

February 29, 2020

DOI: 10.3791/60817-v

Mamdooh Afdile^1,3,5, Iiro P. Jääskeläinen^1,2,4

¹Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering,Aalto University, ²Advanced Magnetic Imaging (AMI) Centre, Aalto NeuroImaging,Aalto University, ³Department of Media, School of Arts Design and Architecture,Aalto University, ⁴International Laboratory for Social Neuroscience, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience,National Research University Higher School of Economics, ⁵Department of Film and Media,Stockholm University of the Arts

Overview

This study investigates the neuro-processing underlying implicit social biases using subliminal stimuli following movie viewings during fMRI scans. The protocol focuses on understanding how contextual knowledge influences implicit responses towards social groups that cannot be differentiated by appearance.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Neuroscience
Social psychology
Functional imaging

Background

Implicit biases pose challenges in social perception research.
Understanding these biases requires innovative experimental paradigms.
The research utilizes subliminal measurement techniques.

Purpose of Study

To explore implicit responses triggered by subliminally presented stimuli.
To understand how participants' contextual knowledge affects their biases.
To investigate biases among social groups differentiated by non-appearance variables.

Methods Used

This study employs functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as the main platform.
Subjects watch a movie that influences their implicit biases, followed by subliminal stimuli.
The fMRI scan lasts approximately 30 minutes, including baseline and post-movie measurements.
Eye tracking is used to ensure participant attentiveness during the scan.

Main Results

Focused on implicit bias differences between groups based on sexual orientation.
Utilizes subliminal presentation to measure changes in brain responses.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of using movies in understanding implicit biases.
It shows implications for future research on social perception mechanisms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of using fMRI in this study?

fMRI provides real-time insights into brain activity and allows for the examination of subconscious processes, aiding in understanding implicit biases.

How is implicit bias measured in this protocol?

It is measured through subliminal presentations following movie viewings, allowing for the assessment of automatic responses without conscious awareness.

What types of data are obtained from eye tracking?

Eye tracking data confirm participant engagement and attentiveness, ensuring reliable fMRI results by monitoring signs of distraction or inattentiveness.

Can this method be adapted for other social groups?

Yes, the subliminal measurement approach can be modified to investigate implicit biases across various social groups beyond those used in this study.

What are key considerations for participants in the fMRI process?

Participants must adhere to safety protocols, such as removing metal objects, and must stay relaxed and attentive throughout the scan.

This protocol describes the use of movies to investigate brain mechanisms underlying implicit social biases during functional magnetic resonance imaging. When the face of a protagonist is presented after a movie subliminally, it evokes an implicit response based on knowledge of the protagonist gained during the movie.

Post-movie subliminal measurement can help answer key questions in understanding the neuro-processing underlying social perception, such as how contextual knowledge bias our implicit response toward others. Implicit bias is a very challenging phenomenon to investigate. By presenting stimuli for very brief periods of time, one can measure the implicit response of the brain that perceives conscious processing.

In our new paradigm, we are presenting movies to experimental subjects to shape their implicit bias. This can be relevant to researchers who are interested in investigating social perception and implicit bias amongst social groups that cannot be differentiated based on their appearances, such as political groups, religious groups, groups with different sexual orientation, and more. The following protocol will be demonstrated by Marita Kattelus and Johan Westo.

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