Brain-As-Predictor Approach: An Alternative Way to Explore Acculturation Processes

Abstract

Chen, Heatherton, and Freeman review the unique strategy of longitudinally assessing the neural changes that occur during the acculturation process. This process differs from the typical research strategy of comparing individuals from two unique cultures or using bicultural individuals and priming them with different cultural cues. The authors use this strategy to determine whether longitudinal study of neural responses can predict acculturation better than typical behavioral measures. Neuroimaging studies indicate that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is activated in response to self-judgments in both Western and Eastern cultures and in response to judgments about close others (e.g., one's mother) in Eastern cultures. Longitudinal analysis showed that Chinese immigrants to the USA who displayed greater acculturation had more activation in this brain region for self-judgments than for judgments about close others. Studies of the reaction to positive emotion expressions of in-group and out-group faces have shown activation of the ventral striatum, a structure in the brain's reward circuit. Longitudinal study of Chinese graduate students who were in school in the USA showed that higher ventral striatum activity to in-group facial expressions showed more in-group friends on a social networking website. Lower ventral striatum activity to in-group facial expressions showed lower number of in-group friends on a social networking website. The authors conclude by offering several ideas for future research, including using diffuse tensor imaging to investigate white matter integrity changes over time and using more cultural specific cues in experimental protocol. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)