title: Oxytocin eliminates the own-race bias in face recognition memory.
abstract: The neuropeptide Oxytocin influences a number of social behaviors, including processing of faces. We examined whether Oxytocin facilitates the processing of out-group faces and reduce the own-race bias (ORB). The ORB is a robust phenomenon characterized by poor recognition memory of other-race faces compared to the same-race faces. In Experiment 1, participants received intranasal solutions of Oxytocin or placebo prior to viewing White and Black faces. On a subsequent recognition test, whereas in the placebo condition the same-race faces were better recognized than other-race faces, in the Oxytocin condition Black and White faces were equally well recognized, effectively eliminating the ORB. In Experiment 2, Oxytocin was administered after the study phase. The ORB resulted, but Oxytocin did not significantly reduce the effect. This study is the first to show that Oxytocin can enhance face memory of out-group members and underscore the importance of social encoding mechanisms underlying the own-race bias. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin and Social Behav.
authors.affiliation: California State University, Fullerton, USA. Electronic address: iblandon-gitlin@fullerton.edu.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blandón-Gitlin
authors.affiliation: Claremont Graduate University, USA.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pezdek
authors.affiliation: California State University, Fullerton, USA.
authors.forename: Sesar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saldivar
authors.affiliation: California State University, Fullerton, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steelman
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005145:Face; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Encoding; Face recognition; Other-race bias; Oxytocin