Sex differences in face recognition memory:an ERP study on the own-gender bias

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Sex differences in face recognition memory:an ERP study on the own-gender bias Nicole Wolff1*, Kathleen Kemter1, Stefan R. Schweinberger1 and Holger Wiese1 1 FSU Jena, Germany Previous studies reported that participants are more accurate at remembering faces of their own as compared to the other gender, a phenomenon known as the own-gender bias. The present study is the first to examine neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon by investigating event-related potential (ERP) correlates of recognition memory for young adult female and male faces in young adult female and male participants. Behavioural results demonstrated an own-gender-bias for male participants, reflecting more accurate recognition memory for male as compared to female faces. No corresponding bias was observed for female participants. Importantly, an interaction of face by participant gender was found in the early ERP old/new effect, which consisted of more positive amplitudes for hits compared to correct rejections between 300-500 ms. Thus, in female participants the early old/new effect was enhanced for female as compared to male faces. By contrast, an increased early old/new effect for male as compared to female faces was detected in male participants. Additionally, in the subsequent time window (500-800 ms) enhanced old/new effects for female as compared to male faces were observed in both male and female participants. Whereas this late old/new effect suggests increased recollection-based memory for female faces in both male and female observers, results in the early old/new effect time window may indicate increased familiarity-based recognition for faces of the participants’ respective gender. Stronger reliance on feelings of familiarity in male as compared to female participants may thus underlie the asymmetrical behavioural own-gender bias in the present study. Funding: DFG - German Research Foundation. Keywords: EEG, Memory Conference: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster Sessions: Neural Bases of Memory and Learning Citation: Wolff N, Kemter K, Schweinberger SR and Wiese H (2011). Sex differences in face recognition memory:an ERP study on the own-gender bias. Conference Abstract: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00411 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 24 Nov 2011; Published Online: 28 Nov 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. Nicole Wolff, FSU Jena, Jena, Germany, nicole.wolff@uni-jena.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Nicole Wolff Kathleen Kemter Stefan R Schweinberger Holger Wiese Google Nicole Wolff Kathleen Kemter Stefan R Schweinberger Holger Wiese Google Scholar Nicole Wolff Kathleen Kemter Stefan R Schweinberger Holger Wiese PubMed Nicole Wolff Kathleen Kemter Stefan R Schweinberger Holger Wiese Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.