Perceptual training prevents the emergence of the other race effect during infancy

Authors

Michelle Heron-Delaney, University of Sheffield
Gizelle Anzures, University of Toronto
Jane S. Herbert, University of SheffieldFollow
Paul Quinn, University of Delaware
Alan Slater, University of Exeter
James Tanaka, University of Victoria, Canada
Kang Lee, University of Toronto
Olivier Pascalis, Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition

RIS ID

110557

Publication Details

Heron-Delaney, M., Anzures, G., Herbert, J. S., Quinn, P. C., Slater, A. M., Tanaka, J. W., Lee, K. & Pascalis, O. (2011). Perceptual training prevents the emergence of the other race effect during infancy. PLoS ONE, 6 (5), e19858-1-e19858-5.

Abstract

Experience plays a crucial role in the development of the face processing system. At 6 months of age infants can discriminate individual faces from their own and other races. By 9 months of age this ability to process other-race faces is typically lost, due to minimal experience with other-race faces, and vast exposure to own-race faces, for which infants come to manifest expertise [1]. This is known as the Other Race Effect. In the current study, we demonstrate that exposing Caucasian infants to Chinese faces through perceptual training via picture books for a total of one hour between 6 and 9 months allows Caucasian infants to maintain the ability to discriminate Chinese faces at 9 months of age. The development of the processing of face race can be modified by training, highlighting the importance of early experience in shaping the face representation.