title: Thatcherization impacts the processing of own-race faces more so than other-race faces: an ERP study.
abstract: It has been suggested that differential use of configural processing strategies may underlie racially based recognition deficits (known as the "other-race effect"). By employing a well-known configural manipulation (Thatcherization, i.e., rotating the eyes and mouth by 180°), we aimed to demonstrate, electrophysiologically, that configural processing is used to a greater extent when viewing same-race faces than when viewing other-race faces. Face-related event-related potential (ERP) responses were measured for participants viewing normal and Thatcherized faces of their own race (Caucasian) and of another race (African-American). The P1 and N170 components were modulated to a greater extent by Thatcherization for same-race faces, suggesting that the processing of these faces is, in fact, more reliant on configural information than other-race faces. Thatcherization also affected the P250 component more so for same-race faces independently of orientation. The race-dependent effects of Thatcherization as early as P1 suggest that configural encoding may be occurring much earlier than the well-cited N170.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA. ah777@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jantzen
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Symons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D009949:Orientation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D044469:Racial Groups; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult