Children's mu suppression is sensitive to witnessing others' social victimization. (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraser, Ashley M.; Hampton, Ryan S.; Spinrad, Tracy L.; Varnum, Michael; Blais, Chris; Eisenberg, Nancy; Gal-Szabo, Diana E.; Berger, Rebecca H.; Xu, Jingyi; Xiao, Sonya Xinyue
• Is Part Of: Social neuroscience. Volume 15:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 348
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Empathy -- mu suppression -- social victimization; Neurosciences -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Social interaction -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2020.1722220
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-0919

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Empathy has been a key focus of social, developmental, and affective neuroscience for some time. However, research using neural measures to study empathy in response to social victimization is sparse, particularly for young children. In the present study, 58 children's (White, non-Hispanic; five to nine years old) mu suppression was measured using electroencephalogram methods (EEG) as they viewed video scenarios depicting social injustices toward White and Black children. We found evidence of increased mu suppression in response to social victimization; however, contrary to well-documented findings of ingroup racial bias in empathic responses among adults, we found no evidence of racial bias in mu suppression in young children. Implications of these findings for neuroscience research on empathy and the development of ingroup bias are discussed.