This study investigates the neural substrates involved in the unconscious evaluation of Black and White social groups, focusing on the amygdala, a subcortical structure known for its role in emotional learning and evaluation. Using fMRI, the researchers found that the strength of amygdala activation to Black-versus-White faces was correlated with two indirect (unconscious) measures of race evaluation ( Implicit Association Test [IAT] and potentiated startle), but not with conscious race attitudes. In Experiment 1, White American subjects observed faces of unfamiliar Black and White males, and the amygdala showed greater activation to Black faces. In Experiment 2, the faces belonged to familiar and positively regarded Black and White individuals, and the amygdala did not show significant activation differences. These results suggest that amygdala and behavioral responses to Black-versus-White faces reflect cultural evaluations of social groups modified by individual experience. The findings highlight the role of the amygdala in unconscious social evaluations and provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying racial bias.This study investigates the neural substrates involved in the unconscious evaluation of Black and White social groups, focusing on the amygdala, a subcortical structure known for its role in emotional learning and evaluation. Using fMRI, the researchers found that the strength of amygdala activation to Black-versus-White faces was correlated with two indirect (unconscious) measures of race evaluation ( Implicit Association Test [IAT] and potentiated startle), but not with conscious race attitudes. In Experiment 1, White American subjects observed faces of unfamiliar Black and White males, and the amygdala showed greater activation to Black faces. In Experiment 2, the faces belonged to familiar and positively regarded Black and White individuals, and the amygdala did not show significant activation differences. These results suggest that amygdala and behavioral responses to Black-versus-White faces reflect cultural evaluations of social groups modified by individual experience. The findings highlight the role of the amygdala in unconscious social evaluations and provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying racial bias.