Spontaneous default mode network phase-locking moderates performance perceptions under stereotype threat.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Stereotype threat can negatively impact performance perceptions, particularly for minority students.
• Individual differences in neural processing may influence responses to stereotype threat.
• The default mode network (DMN) is crucial for self-oriented processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-oriented neural processing and performance perceptions in minority students facing stereotype threat.
• To explore how resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) activity predicts error estimation and self-doubt.
• To identify neural moderators of stereotype threat effects on subjective experience.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state EEG was recorded from white and minority participants.
• Phase-locking between specific DMN regions (left lateral parietal cortex (LPC), precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (P/PCC), medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC)) was analyzed.
• Participants' estimates of task errors and self-doubt were recorded.

Main Results:

• Greater LPC-P/PCC phase-locking in the theta band correlated with more accurate error estimations in minority participants.
• Greater LPC-MPFC phase-locking in the alpha band was associated with less self-doubt for all individuals, driven by minorities.
• Minority participants who overestimated errors reported more self-doubt.

Conclusions:

• Individual differences in spontaneous neural synchronization within the DMN can moderate stereotype threat effects on subjective performance perceptions.
• Theta and alpha band synchronization in specific DMN regions may represent neural mechanisms for coping with stereotype threat.
• These findings highlight novel neural moderators influencing how individuals experience and respond to stereotype threat.