Previous studies have identified two group-level processes, neural representations of interracial between-group difference and intraracial within-group similarity, that contribute to the racial categorization of faces. What remains unclear is how the brain tracks race-related information that varies across different faces as an individual-level neural process involved in race perception. In three studies, we recorded functional MRI signals when Chinese adults performed different tasks on morphed faces in which proportions of pixels contributing to perceived racial identity (Asian vs White) and expression (pain vs neutral) varied independently. We found that, during a pain expression judgment task, tracking other-race and same-race-related information in perceived faces recruited the ventral occipitotemporal cortices and medial prefrontal/anterior temporal cortices, respectively. However, neural tracking of race-related information tended to be weakened during explicit race judgments on perceived faces. During a donation task, the medial prefrontal activity also tracked race-related information that distinguished between two perceived faces for altruistic decision-making and encoded the Euclidean distance between the two faces that predicted decision-making speeds. Our findings revealed task-dependent neural mechanisms underlying the tracking of race-related information during face perception and altruistic decision-making.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Brain Mapping ; Decision Making/physiology* ; Facial Recognition/physiology* ; Judgment/physiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Photic Stimulation ; Racial Groups ; Social Perception ; East Asian People

In this study, we investigated how empathic neural responses unfold over time in different empathy networks when viewing same-race and other-race individuals in dynamic painful conditions. We recorded magnetoencephalography signals from Chinese adults when viewing video clips showing a dynamic painful (or non-painful) stimulation to Asian and White models' faces to trigger painful (or neutral) expressions. We found that perceived dynamic pain in Asian models modulated neural activities in the visual cortex at 100 ms-200 ms, in the orbitofrontal and subgenual anterior cingulate cortices at 150 ms-200 ms, in the anterior cingulate cortex around 250 ms-350 ms, and in the temporoparietal junction and middle temporal gyrus around 600 ms after video onset. Perceived dynamic pain in White models modulated activities in the visual, anterior cingulate, and primary sensory cortices after 500 ms. Our findings unraveled earlier dynamic activities in multiple neural circuits in response to same-race (vs other-race) individuals in dynamic painful situations.
Adult ; Humans ; Brain Mapping ; Pain ; Empathy ; Racism ; Gyrus Cinguli/physiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Brain/physiology*

Objective:To study effects of Orff rhythm-beat-tap training on positive emotions in elderly patients with mild dementia.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 72 elderly patients with mild dementia who were treated in the Third People's Hospital of Huzhou from August 2018 to August 2019 were selected as the research objects and they were divided into two groups using the simple random sampling method. After the start of the study, 2 cases dropped out because of failure to persist in training, 1 case dropped out because of transfer during hospitalization and 1 case dropped out because of aggravation of the disease and changing drugs. A total of 68 cases were included in the study, including 33 cases in the intervention group and 35 cases in the control group. The control group received routine nursing, while the intervention group received 12-week Orff rhythm-beat-tap training on this basis. The scores of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) , Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) and Dementia Mood Assessment Scale (DMAS) were evaluated before and after the intervention.Results:The score of positive emotion after intervention in the intervention group was (31.58±1.87) , higher than (26.66±2.93) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=8.297, P<0.01) . After intervention, the score of negative emotion of the intervention group was (21.97±2.30) , the score of apathy was (44.88±5.22) , and the score of dementia mood was (23.18±4.33) , which were lower than (23.80±3.94) , (51.91±7.49) and (26.09±6.20) of the control group, and there were statistically significant differences in scores between the two groups ( t=-2.356, -4.514, -2.225; P<0.05) . Conclusions:Orff rhythm-beat-tap training is suitable for elderly patients with mild dementia, which can effectively enhance positive emotional experience of patients, improve apathy and optimize mood.