Temporal and neural dynamics of racial bias in pain empathy: A systematic review of event-related potentials

This study presents a systematic review of event-related potential (ERP) research examining the temporal and neural dynamics of racial bias in pain empathy. It synthesizes findings from multiple experiments to identify consistent ERP components and time windows associated with differential empathic responses to pain across racial groups. Methodological variations, including task design and participant demographics, are critically evaluated to clarify sources of heterogeneity in outcomes. The results provide an integrated perspective on how implicit racial bias shapes the neural time course of empathy for pain. This work aims to guide future research and interventions that address bias in social and clinical contexts.