A New Experimental Paradigm to Investigate Exposure to Minority Stress in Neuroimaging Research

Despite robust evidence linking minority stress to mental and physical health disparities in LGB populations, most studies have relied on correlational data and self-report measures. The present study introduces a novel experimental paradigm combining neuroimaging (fNIRS), questionnaires, and ecologically valid auditory stimuli to investigate the impact of minority stress on neural activity and mood. This paradigm extends prior research on the "Cardiovascular Conundrum"— a paradoxical autonomic profile observed in minority groups—by examining its neurofunctional counterpart, the emotional suppression. Participants (LGB and matched heterosexual controls) were exposed to stigma-related, stressful, and positive audio clips under two conditions: emotion suppression and natural response. Brain activation was measured across prefrontal and parietal regions, while self-reported affect and standardized psychometric instruments assessed psychological traits and past discriminatory experience. Emphasis was placed on the mediating role of emotion suppression, a known coping strategy associated with adverse outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first framework to combine experimental induction of minority stress, emotion regulation manipulation, and neurofunctional recording in real time. By addressing current methodological gaps, this paradigm offers a temporally precise and ecologically valid approach to investigating how stigma impacts brain function and affective regulation in minority populations.