Social optimism biases are associated with cortical thickness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Optimism biases, the tendency to overestimate positive future events, impact mental health.
• These biases can extend to social groups (social optimism biases), but their neural correlates are unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between social optimism biases and brain structure.
• To explore the neural basis of self-enhancement and its connection to optimism and out-group perceptions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized sparse canonical correlation analysis to link brain structure with psychological measures.
• Assessed cortical thickness via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Measured personal and social optimism biases, trait optimism, and related concepts.

Main Results:

• Identified a 'defensive self-enhancement' dimension.
• This dimension significantly correlated with the cortical thickness of the insula and inferior frontal cortex.
• The dimension encompassed personal optimism/pessimism and negative biases toward unpopular out-groups.

Conclusions:

• A shared neural substrate may link self-promotion and out-group denigration.
• This biological link could complicate societal efforts to reduce stereotyping.
• Interventions may need to consider the potential impact on adaptive personal optimism biases.