The brain? It has a flexible social perception. In interactions with people from different ethnic groups, it tends to respond more inclusively when a shared national identity is made salient.
A study ( National identity reconfigures brain responses from ‘them’ to ‘us’ ) by the University of Trento, Italy, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), published in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) , sheds light on the underlying neural mechanisms.
The findings help to better understand the relationship between ethnic and national identity and have implications for improving intergroup relations in multicultural societies.
The study shows that the brain’s representation of social boundaries can rapidly reorganise in response to context. The research team suggests that this neural flexibility underlies the human ability to navigate complex social environments characterised by multiple and interconnected group identities. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective strategies to bridge divisions and foster more harmonious intergroup relations.
The research demonstrates that even a brief reminder of a shared national identity (such as hearing a common language or seeing the flag of one's country) can alter the brain’s response when viewing faces of people from different ethnic groups. In particular, a region of the frontal cortex - key for relating others to the self - shows increased engagement when processing faces from ethnic out-groups. Functional MRI reveals that the brain begins to categorise these faces as part of one’s own group, while still preserving information about ethnic differences.
Gianluca Esposito, co-lead of the project and Director of the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Trento , comments: “This study shows that the human brain has a remarkable capacity to expand the sense of belonging, shifting from a ‘us versus them’ mindset to a more inclusive ‘we.’ When a shared identity, such as a national one, becomes salient, individuals outside one’s group begin to be perceived more similarly. This suggests that, even in contexts marked by ethnic or social divisions, there are neuropsychological foundations that can support mutual recognition, reduce distance, and foster greater openness toward others. From a social cohesion perspective, these findings indicate that emphasising common identities and shared goals can help defuse oppositional dynamics and create more favourable conditions for dialogue. The most encouraging message is that social boundaries are not fixed: the brain is capable of reorganising itself, providing a concrete basis for envisioning pathways toward coexistence, reconciliation, and lasting peace.”
Annabel Chen, co-lead of the project, Director, Cradle@NTU and President's Chair in Psychology at NTU Singapore , adds: “What is striking is that the brain does not seem to need to erase ethnic identity in order to make room for a shared national identity. Our findings suggest that these identities can coexist, and that reminding people of a common national identity can shift social perception in a more inclusive direction. For multicultural societies, this points to an important principle: efforts to strengthen social cohesion may be more effective when they affirm both shared belonging and subgroup identities, rather than treating ethnic identity as something that must be set aside.”
Kelly Sng, PhD candidate at NTU Singapore and first author of the study , explains: “We found that the brain is more flexible in social perception than often assumed. Even a brief identity cue was enough to change how faces of out-group members were processed, but the change was not absolute. The brain continued to track ethnic distinctions, suggesting that social harmony does not require people to give up who they are.”
About the study
The study was conducted in Singapore, where the multiethnic population and clearly defined ethnic and national identities provide a natural context for examining these questions.
The 92 participants belonged to the three main ethnic communities in Singapore: Chinese, Malay, and Indian. Their brain activity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they viewed faces of individuals from different ethnic groups.
The study used both auditory stimuli - short spoken phrases in different languages - and visual stimuli - cultural symbols associated with ethnic or national identity. Faces were presented under two conditions: after exposure to ethnic identity cues (reminders of one’s own or others’ ethnicity) and after exposure to national identity cues (reminders of belonging to Singapore).
About the article
The article, titled “National identity reconfigures brain responses from ‘them’ to ‘us’” (DOI 10.1073/pnas.2531563123), was published on March 30, 2026. Corresponding authors are Gianluca Esposito (University of Trento) and SH Annabel Chen (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore).
The paper is also authored by Kelly H.L. Sng (first author) and Nisha Syed Nasser, both members of the Singapore research team. The article is available at: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2531563123
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Imaging analysis
People
National identity reconfigures brain responses from ‘them’ to ‘us'
30-Mar-2026