The role of configural processing in face classification by race: an ERP study

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 even more the categorization of own-race faces having no con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Main Authors: Jing eLv, Tianyi eYan, Luyang eTao, Lun eZhao
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00679
https://doaj.org/article/8b9a9f1c46a041ffba6e38a6c573d251
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Summary: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 even more the categorization of own-race faces having no conspicuous effect on other race faces. The N170 was not sensitive to configural distortions and 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.