Neural dynamics of racial categorization of faces in Black Africans residing in China

While recent research has revealed earlier neural-based racial categorization of other-race compared to same-race faces in White and Asian samples, neural dynamics underlying racial categorization in Black Africans remain unclear. We recorded electroencephalography (EEG) from Black adults from African countries and residing in China who performed an individual identification task on faces presented in repetition (faces of one racial category shown repeatedly) or alternating (other-race and same-race faces alternated) conditions, respectively. Racial categorization was assessed by quantifying repetition suppression (RS) of neural responses to faces across these two conditions. We found RS for both phase (the P2 amplitudes) and non-phase-locked (theta band, 3-8 Hz) responses to Black (but not Asian or White) faces. This neural profile was consistent with participants' faster responses to Black than White/Asian faces in an explicit racial categorization task. Furthermore, the theta-band RS effect predicted implicit negative attitudes toward Black faces across the participants. These results indicate earlier categorization of same-race (vs. other-race) faces in Black Africans residing in China, contrasting with the other-race priority in race categorization of faces observed in Asian and White samples.