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Do perceptual expertise and implicit racial bias predict early face-sensitive ERP responses?
Gizelle Anzures1, Melissa Mildort2
1Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; FAU Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA; Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA.
Brain and Cognition
|December 28, 2020
Summary
This study found that how well individuals recognize faces and their implicit racial biases impact early brain responses (N170) to other-race faces. These factors minimally influenced responses to own-race faces.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Mixed findings exist on race effects in early event-related potential (ERP) components during face perception.
- Limited research has explored individual differences in bottom-up/top-down face processing and their interaction on early ERPs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if P100, N170, and P200 ERP components are predicted by individual differences in own- and other-race face recognition and implicit racial bias.
- To examine the interaction between face recognition abilities and implicit racial bias in modulating early face-sensitive ERPs.
Main Methods:
- Examined electroencephalography (EEG) data, specifically P100, N170, and P200 components.
- Assessed individual differences in own-race and other-race face recognition.
- Measured implicit racial bias using established psychological methods.
Main Results:
- Observed race effects across P100, N170, and P200 responses.
- Other-race face recognition, implicit bias, and their interaction significantly predicted N170 variability for other-race faces.
- Implicit racial bias minimally predicted N170 latency for own-race faces; P100 responses were not predicted by these factors.
Conclusions:
- Face recognition abilities and their interaction with implicit racial bias significantly modulate early processing of other-race faces.
- Early ERP components, particularly N170, are sensitive to the interplay of face recognition and racial bias.
- Findings highlight the complex neural mechanisms underlying race perception in faces.
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