title: The Role of Configural Processing in Face Classification by Race: An ERP Study.
abstract: The current study investigated the time course of the other-race classification advantage (ORCA) in the subordinate classification of normally configured faces and distorted faces by race. Slightly distorting the face configuration delayed the categorization of own-race faces and had no conspicuous effects on other-race faces. The N170 was sensitive neither to configural distortions nor to faces' races. The P3 was enhanced for other-race than own-race faces and reduced by configural manipulation only for own-race faces. We suggest that the source of ORCA is the configural analysis applied by default while processing own-race faces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, General Hospital of People's Liberation Army Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tianyi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University Soochow, China.
authors.forename: Luyang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Institute of User Experience and Brain Cognition, Beijing Normal UniversityZhuhai, China; School of Psychological Research, Beijing Yiran Sunny Technology Co. LtdBeijing, China.
authors.forename: Lun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: ERPs; configural processing; face perception; other-race faces