Using spatial frequency scales for processing own-race and other-race faces: An ERP analysis.

In the present study we examined the influence of spatial filtering on the N170 elicited by own-race and other-race faces, a relatively early face-selective ERP difference associated with face detection. It was found that BB (broad band) faces elicited larger N170 than did LSF (low spatial frequency) faces and the latter larger than HSF (high spatial frequency) condition. Faces' races significantly modulated the N170 amplitudes, showing larger N170 for other-race than own-race faces for both BB and HSF conditions but not for LSF condition. For own-race faces, the N170 did not differ between BB and LSF conditions, whereas other-race faces elicited larger N170 for BB than LSF conditions. The present data provided new electrophysiological evidence for race perception of faces.