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.

Keywords:

• N170
• P100 (P1)
• Thatcher
• Race
• Holistic processing

Notes

¹Also referred to as the “own-race bias”, “own-race effect,” or “own-race advantage.”

²The expertise theory is also referred to as the “contact theory” in some literature.

³Note that these components exist for non-face stimuli as well. As such, they are not considered to be face-specific, but rather indices of visual processing.

⁴Greebles are a class of novel stimuli that have been utilized to investigate the role of expertise and configural processing in face perception studies because, like faces, they have a number of small components arranged in a commom configuration.