A neurological look at race is multifaceted. The cross-race effect has been neurologically explained by there being differences in brain processing while viewing same-race and other-race faces.^[1] There is a debate over the cause of the cross-race effect.

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Neurotechnology enables studying the brain and racial interactions, though this study can be difficult because these interactions can be hard to replicate. Face recognition tests are the most commonly used method in studying racial interactions.^[2][3][4] These tests consist of observing own-race and other-race faces, and studying the brain's response to the faces. There are three major neurological techniques used to measure the brain's response to these simulated racial interactions. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures the brain activity through measuring the blood oxygen level in the brain. This test gives insight into which regions of the brain are active during a certain event. Event-related potentials (ERPs) measure the brain's activity through measuring electrical impulses by electrodes on the head. This test gives insight in rapid changes in the brain. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures the response of a region of the brain once activated through magnetism. This test gives insight into the causality of occurrences and gives specific insight in what the brain regions are doing.^[4] Brain-damaged patients have also been used to study racial interactions, by studying how racial interactions are affected when specific brain regions are damaged. These studies give insight into how different brain regions are involved in racial interactions once certain regions have been damaged.^[5] An implicit association test (IAC) is often used to measure the racial bias of people in studies by testing what objects, whether positive or negative, people associate with same-race or other-race faces.^[3]

Many studies researching racial interactions analyze the cross-race effect. This is a bias or tendency for people to be more familiar with a face of the same race compared to members of another race. This is characterized by people performing poorly on face recognition tests with other-race faces. This phenomenon is rooted in differences in face recognition and memory processing of same-race and other race faces.

Though there is an innate initial negative response while viewing other-race faces, the brain regions that control this response are malleable. The ACC and DLPFC both regulate the amygdala’s initial negative response. Many studies show that the initial racial bias can be changed through different situational contexts and motivations.^[3] Differences in amygdala activation have diminished when other-race faces of famous or respected people are viewed, showing that amygdala activation can be controlled through personal beliefs.^[14] Also, increased exposure to other races and cultural ideals help suppress the racial bias within the brain circuitry. For instance, one study showed that Asian immigrants who lived in America for an extended time showed an absence of the cross-race effect to other American faces, implying that exposure to other races decreases the effects of the cross-race effect.^[2] Current studies in positive psychology have shown that denial of racial differences leads only to further racial stereotyping. Therefore, the best way to control racism is to acknowledge racial differences, and to accept racial equality.^[15] Emotional regulation techniques are needed to overcome some racist beliefs, which involves emotionally reinterpreting events.^[3] Behavior enhancer drugs could possibly be used in the future to modify people's racist response, but there are ethical arguments against this.^[16]

There has been limited research on actual neurological differences among ethnic groups. This is believed to be due to low participation in experiments by minority groups^{[citation needed]}. However, some research has shown some differences in brain anatomy among ethnic groups. The causes are discussed in the context of sampling difficulties, racism, socioeconomic status, and differences in health outcomes.^[17][18] There have been observed morphological differences between European American and Chinese individuals in the frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions.^[18][19] These differences are thought to be due to the effects of language differences on brain development.^[19][20] A 2010 study on variability in frontotemporal brain structure between African Americans and European Americans found differences in brain structure, despite the participants all being from an English speaking nation. However, these differences were small in nature, and most failed to survive a Bonferroni correction. The results can only be considered preliminary, as it only had 25 African American participants, and did not account for any confounds like health or socioeconomic status.^[17]