Neural correlates of stigma: A systematic review
Nele Loecher1, Jennifer T Tran2, Kristin Kosyluk1
1Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida.
Neuropsychology
|September 15, 2025
Summary
This review reveals distinct brain patterns for enacted and experienced stigma. Enacted stigma involves widespread brain networks, while experienced stigma shows a blunted medial prefrontal cortex response.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Stigma, both experienced and enacted, poses a significant public health challenge.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of stigma is crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Previous research has explored the neural correlates of stigma, but a comprehensive synthesis is lacking.
Conclusions:
- This systematic review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of neural correlates of stigma.
- Identified distinct brain patterns associated with the experience and enactment of stigma.
- Highlights the complexity of stigma research and offers considerations for future studies.
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