--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Second depressing finding: subliminal…" description: "\"“Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of race also affects the fusiform face area, the cortical region that specializes in facial recognitio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png" --- # Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of race… ![“Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of race also affects the fusiform face area, the cortical region that specializes in facial recognition.11 Damaging the fusiform, for example, selectively produces “face blindness” (aka prosopagnosia), an inability to recognize faces.” quote by Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png) > ““Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of race also affects the fusiform face area, the cortical region that specializes in facial recognition.11 Damaging the fusiform, for example, selectively produces “face blindness” (aka prosopagnosia), an inability to recognize faces.”” [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Subliminal racial cues can impair the brain’s face‑recognition area, leading to prosopagnosia‑like deficits, showing how bias infiltrates perception at a neural level. **In simple terms:** Hidden racial bias can damage face recognition. Key Takeaway Address subconscious bias to protect neural health. Themes bias neuroscience perception racial prejudice Mood concerned analytical Type scientific educational When to use this quote - clinical practice - media analysis - education - diversity training Key Concepts subliminal signaling fusiform area prosopagnosia Questions to Reflect On - What strategies reduce subliminal bias effects? - Can awareness training improve fusiform function? A Different Perspective Neural damage may be reversible with conscious intervention, but underlying biases persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affects Fusiform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affects-fusiform-1846147/) [Cortex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortex-283580/) [Face Blindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-blindness-1846146/) [Fusiform Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fusiform-face-1846148/) [Prosopagnosia Inability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosopagnosia-inability-1846144/) [Subliminal Signaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subliminal-signaling-1846145/) ## Related quotes > [“when women are ovulating, their fusiform face areas respond more to faces, with the (“emotional”) vmPFCs responding more to men’s faces in particular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/when-women-are-ovulating-their-fusiform-face-areas-respond-more-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [You wouldn't know it, but I'm no good at recognising people; I have face blindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-jones/you-wouldn-t-know-it-but-i-m-no-good-at-recognising-people-i-have/) [Sadie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-jones/) > [The frontal cortex doesn't even fully develop until age 25, which is wild!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-frontal-cortex-doesn-t-even-fully-develop-until-age-25-which-is/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“in adults the anterior cingulate cortex activates when they see someone hurt. Ditto for the amygdala and insula, especially in instances of intentional harm—there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-adults-the-anterior-cingulate-cortex-activates-when-they-see/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“During sustained stress, the amygdala processes emotional sensory information more rapidly and less accurately, dominates hippocampal function, and disrupts frontocortical function; we’re more fearful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/during-sustained-stress-the-amygdala-processes-emotional-sensory/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“THE AMYGDALAfn8 IS the archetypal limbic structure, sitting under the cortex in the temporal lobe. It is central to mediating aggression, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-amygdalafn8-is-the-archetypal-limbic-structure-sitting-under-the/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Joseph LeDoux at New York University has shown how the BLA learns fear.fn14,20 Expose a rat to an innate trigger of fear—a shock. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/joseph-ledoux-at-new-york-university-has-shown-how-the-bla-learns/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Logically, when the amygdala wants to mobilize a behavior—say, fleeing—it talks to the frontal cortex, seeking its executive approval. But if sufficiently aroused, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/logically-when-the-amygdala-wants-to-mobilize-a-behavior-say-fleeing/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Powerful support for an amygdaloid role in fear processing comes from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In PTSD sufferers the amygdala is overreactive to mildly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/powerful-support-for-an-amygdaloid-role-in-fear-processing-comes-from/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Moderate, transient stress (i.e., the good, stimulatory stress) promotes hippocampal LTP, while prolonged stress disrupts it and promotes LTD—one reason why cognition tanks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/moderate-transient-stress-i-e-the-good-stimulatory-stress-promotes/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“It’s not until the non-NMDA has been stimulated over and over by a long train of glutamate release, allowing enough sodium to flow in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-not-until-the-non-nmda-has-been-stimulated-over-and-over-by-a/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Chapter 3 discusses some unsettling research—stick your average person in a brain scanner, and show him a picture of someone of another race for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/chapter-3-discusses-some-unsettling-research-stick-your-average/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Brains distinguish between an Us and a Them in a fraction of a second. Subliminal processing of a Them activates the amygdala and insular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/brains-distinguish-between-an-us-and-a-them-in-a-fraction-of-a-second/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More by Robert M. Sapolsky > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Finally, for the same criminal conviction, the more stereotypically Af-rican a black individual’s facial features, the longer the sentence.15 In contrast, juries view black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/finally-for-the-same-criminal-conviction-the-more-stereotypically-af/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“So testosterone does subtle things to behavior. Nonetheless, this doesn’t tell us much because everything can be interpreted every which way. Testosterone increases anxiety—you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/so-testosterone-does-subtle-things-to-behavior-nonetheless-this-doesn/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“pain makes aggressive people more aggressive, while doing the opposite to unaggressive individuals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/pain-makes-aggressive-people-more-aggressive-while-doing-the-opposite/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Thus, for our purposes, genes aren’t about inevitability. Instead they’re about context-dependent tendencies, propensities, potentials, and vulnerabilities. All embedded in the fabric of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/thus-for-our-purposes-genes-aren-t-about-inevitability-instead-they/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-sides-it-s-a-nontrivial-to-do/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“In other words, the more genomically complex the organism, the larger the percentage of the genome devoted to gene regulation by the environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-other-words-the-more-genomically-complex-the-organism-the-larger/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The subject of one experiment is a rat that receives mild electric shocks (roughly equivalent to the static shock you might get from scuffing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-subject-of-one-experiment-is-a-rat-that-receives-mild-electric/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“No brain region is an island, and the formation of circuits connecting far-flung brain regions is crucial—how else can the frontal cortex use its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/no-brain-region-is-an-island-and-the-formation-of-circuits-connecting/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“One stretch of the gene is repeated a variable number of times, and the version with seven repeats (the “7R” form) produces a receptor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/one-stretch-of-the-gene-is-repeated-a-variable-number-of-times-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“some people always get more than their share of equality than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/some-people-always-get-more-than-their-share-of-equality-than-others/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Explore all 280 Robert M. Sapolsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More Cortex quotes > [Visual cortex is fundamentally a machine whose job is to generate a model of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/visual-cortex-is-fundamentally-a-machine-whose-job-is-to-generate-a/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Spatial working memory is impaired by stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-davidson/spatial-working-memory-is-impaired-by-stress/) [Richard Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-davidson/) > [“The amygdala can accomplish its quick response because of the special properties of another nucleus within it: the central nucleus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-pittman/the-amygdala-can-accomplish-its-quick-response-because-of-the-special/) [Catherine M. Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-pittman/) > [Brains distinguish between an Us and a Them in a fraction of a second. Subliminal processing of a Them activates the amygdala and insular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/brains-distinguish-between-an-us-and-a-them-in-a-fraction-of-a-second/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Chapter 3 discusses some unsettling research—stick your average person in a brain scanner, and show him a picture of someone of another race for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/chapter-3-discusses-some-unsettling-research-stick-your-average/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“It’s not until the non-NMDA has been stimulated over and over by a long train of glutamate release, allowing enough sodium to flow in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-not-until-the-non-nmda-has-been-stimulated-over-and-over-by-a/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Moderate, transient stress (i.e., the good, stimulatory stress) promotes hippocampal LTP, while prolonged stress disrupts it and promotes LTD—one reason why cognition tanks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/moderate-transient-stress-i-e-the-good-stimulatory-stress-promotes/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The frontal lobes are one of the most important parts of the cortex to understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-pittman/the-frontal-lobes-are-one-of-the-most-important-parts-of-the-cortex/) [Catherine M. Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-pittman/) > [“Powerful support for an amygdaloid role in fear processing comes from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In PTSD sufferers the amygdala is overreactive to mildly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/powerful-support-for-an-amygdaloid-role-in-fear-processing-comes-from/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Logically, when the amygdala wants to mobilize a behavior—say, fleeing—it talks to the frontal cortex, seeking its executive approval. But if sufficiently aroused, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/logically-when-the-amygdala-wants-to-mobilize-a-behavior-say-fleeing/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Joseph LeDoux at New York University has shown how the BLA learns fear.fn14,20 Expose a rat to an innate trigger of fear—a shock. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/joseph-ledoux-at-new-york-university-has-shown-how-the-bla-learns/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“amygdalae filter through the information to determine its threat-level significance and mobilizes a response.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-disalvo/amygdalae-filter-through-the-information-to-determine-its-threat/) [David DiSalvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-disalvo/) > [“The quick reaction that results from the amygdala pathway is typically called the fight-or-flight response.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-pittman/the-quick-reaction-that-results-from-the-amygdala-pathway-is/) [Catherine M. Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-pittman/) [Browse all 79 Cortex quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortex-283580/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of race also affects the fusiform face area, the cortical region that specializes in facial recognition.11 Damaging the fusiform, for example, selectively produces “face blindness” (aka prosopagnosia), an inability to recognize faces.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. Sapolsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/second-depressing-finding-subliminal-signaling-of-race-also-affects/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cortex" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/second-depressing-finding-subliminal-signaling-of-race-also-affects/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cortex_second-depressing-finding-subliminal-sig_2589278.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of race also affects the fusiform face area, the cortical…” — Robert M. Sapolsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert M. Sapolsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Second depressing finding: subliminal signaling of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/second-depressing-finding-subliminal-signaling-of-race-also-affects/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/second-depressing-finding-subliminal-signaling-of-race-also-affects/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```