Adrenoceptor blockade modulates fusiform gyrus activity to black versus white faces

Introduction The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol is known to reduce peripheral and central activity of noradrenaline. A recent study found that intervention with propranolol diminished negative implicit racial bias. Materials and method The current study used functional magnetic resonance i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychopharmacology 2015-08, Vol.232 (16), p.2951
Main Authors: Terbeck, S, Kahane, G, McTavish, S, McCutcheon, R, Hewstone, M, Savulescu, J, Chesterman, L. P, Cowen, P. J, Norbury, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dosage and administration
Emotions
Health aspects
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Propranolol
Psychological aspects
Psychopharmacology
Racism
Temporal lobes
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Summary:Introduction The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol is known to reduce peripheral and central activity of noradrenaline. A recent study found that intervention with propranolol diminished negative implicit racial bias. Materials and method The current study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in order to determine the neural correlates of this effect. Healthy volunteers (N = 40) of white ethnic origin received a single oral dose (40 mg) of propranolol, in a randomised, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled design, before viewing unfamiliar faces of same and other race. Results and discussion We found significantly reduced activity in the fusiform gyrus and thalamus following propranolol to out-group faces only. Additionally, propranolol lowered the implicit attitude score, without affecting explicit prejudice measure. Conclusion These findings suggest that noradrenaline pathways might modulate racial bias by acting on the processing of categorisation in the fusiform gyrus.
ISSN:0033-3158
1432-2072
DOI:10.1007/s00213-015-3929-7