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The self-face advantage (SFA) is reflected through a faster recognition of a self-face compared with familiar and unfamiliar faces. Nevertheless, as Westerners and East Asians tend to present differences in self-concept styles, it is possible that the SFA is modulated by culture. The present study explored this possibility using a visual search task. British Caucasians and Malaysian Chinese participants were asked to search for frontal view images of self, friend, and unfamiliar faces among an array of unfamiliar faces. Regardless of race, participants were more accurate and faster in searching for the own face and friend’s face compared with an unfamiliar face, with no differences in the search between the own and friend’s face, and these findings could not be accounted by the cultural differences in self-concept (i.e., operationalised by scores from the Independent and Interdependent Self-Concept Scale and the Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale). Altogether our results suggest that culture does not modulate the SFA and that this effect is better explained by a familiar face advantage.

It is widely accepted that holistic processing is important for face perception. However, it remains unclear whether the other-race effect (ORE) (i.e. superior recognition for own-race faces) arises from reduced holistic processing of other-race faces. To address this issue, we adopted a cross-cultural design where Malaysian Chinese, African, European Caucasian and Australian Caucasian participants performed four different tasks: (1) yes–no face recognition, (2) composite, (3) whole-part and (4) global–local tasks. Each face task was completed with unfamiliar own- and other-race faces. Results showed a pronounced ORE in the face recognition task. Both composite-face and whole-part effects were found; however, these holistic effects did not appear to be stronger for other-race faces than for own-race faces. In the global–local task, Malaysian Chinese and African participants demonstrated a stronger global processing bias compared to both European- and Australian-Caucasian participants. Importantly, we found little or no cross-task correlation between any of the holistic processing measures and face recognition ability. Overall, our findings cast doubt on the prevailing account that the ORE in face recognition is due to reduced holistic processing in other-race faces. Further studies should adopt an interactionist approach taking into account cultural, motivational, and socio-cognitive factors.

According to the processing bias account, global Navon-induced processing primes the adoption of a holistic strategy whereas local Navon-induced processing triggers featural processing. As faces are recognised at a holistic level, global Navon-induced processing would increase recognition accuracy of whole faces. In contrast, local Navon-induced processing would enhance the recognition of individual facial features. In two experiments we explored this account using the part/whole task. Observers were asked to recognise facial features presented in isolation or embedded into whole faces, after global or local Navon-induced processing. In both experiments, results showed a whole-over-part advantage whereby facial features were recognised more accurately in the context of the whole face than in isolation. However, Navon-induced processing failed to modulate this effect as well as the magnitude of holistic-featural face processing. These results cast doubts on the reliability of Navon processing to prime the adoption of a particular processing style for face identification.

Face identification is useful for social interactions and its impairment can lead to severe social and mental problems. This ability is also remarkably important in applied settings, including eyewitness identification and ID verification. Several studies have demonstrated the potential of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS) to enhance different cognitive skills. However, research has produced inconclusive results about the effectiveness of tRNS to improve face identification. The present study aims to further explore the effect of tRNS on face identification using an unfamiliar face matching task. Observers firstly received either high-frequency bilateral tRNS or sham stimulation for 20 min. The stimulation targeted occipitotemporal areas, which have been previously involved in face processing. In a subsequent stage, observers were asked to perform an unfamiliar face matching task consisting of unaltered and pixelated face pictures. Compared to the sham stimulation group, the high-frequency tRNS group showed better unfamiliar face matching performance with both unaltered and pixelated faces. Our results show that a single high-frequency tRNS session might suffice to improve face identification abilities. These results have important consequences for the treatment of face recognition disorders, and potential applications in those scenarios whereby the identification of faces is primordial.

In the forensic face matching task, observers are presented with two unfamiliar faces and must determine whether they depict the same identity. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some governmental authorities require the use of face masks in public spaces. However, recent research has shown that face masks impair face identification. The present study explores the effect of face masks on forensic face matching using an individual differences approach. Compared to a full-view condition, performance decreased when a face mask was superimposed on one face (Experiment 1) and both faces (Experiment 2) of a pair. Although a positive correlation between the full-view and the mask conditions was found, high proficiency in the full-view condition did not always generalize to the mask condition. Additionally, the mask generally has a more negative impact on those participants with better performance in the full-view condition. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Purpose The other-race effect shows that people are better recognizing faces from their own-race compared to other-race faces. This effect can have dramatic consequences in applied scenarios whereby face identification is paramount, such as eyewitness identification. This paper aims to investigate whether observers have insights into their ability to recognize other-race faces. Design/methodology/approach Chinese ethnic observers performed objective measures of own- and other-race face recognition – the Cambridge Face Memory Test Chinese and the Cambridge Face Memory Test original; the PI20 – a 20-items self-reported measured of general face recognition abilities; and the ORE20 – a new developed 20-items self-reported measure of other-race face recognition. Findings Recognition of own-race faces was better compared to other-race faces. This effect was also evident at a phenomenological level, as observers reported to be worse recognizing other-race faces compared to own-race faces. Additionally, although a moderate correlation was found between own-race face recognition abilities and the PI20, individual differences in the recognition of other-race faces was only poorly associated with observers’ scores in the ORE20. Research limitations/implications These results suggest that observers’ insights to recognize faces are more consistent and reliable for own-race faces. Practical implications Self-reported measures of other-race recognition could produce misleading results. Thus, when evaluating eyewitness’ accuracy identifying other-race faces, objective measures should be used. Originality/value In contrast to own race recognition, people have very limited insights into their recognition abilities for other race faces.

Knowing the place-value of digits in multi-digit numbers allows us to identify, understand and distinguish between numbers with the same digits (e.g., 1492 vs. 1942). Research using the size congruency task has shown that the place-value in a string of three zeros and a non-zero digit (e.g., 0090) is processed automatically. In the present study, we explored whether place-value is also automatically activated when more complex numbers (e.g., 2795) are presented. Twenty-five participants were exposed to pairs of four-digit numbers that differed regarding the position of some digits and their physical size. Participants had to decide which of the two numbers was presented in a larger font size. In the congruent condition, the number shown in a bigger font size was numerically larger. In the incongruent condition, the number shown in a smaller font size was numerically larger. Two types of numbers were employed: numbers composed of three zeros and one non-zero digit (e.g., 0040-0400) and numbers composed of four non-zero digits (e.g., 2795-2759). Results showed larger congruency effects in more distant pairs in both type of numbers. Interestingly, this effect was considerably stronger in the strings composed of zeros. These results indicate that place-value coding is partially automatic, as it depends on the perceptual and numerical properties of the numbers to be processed.

The 20-Item Prosopagnosia Items (PI-20) was recently introduced as a self-report\ud measure of face recognition abilities and as an instrument to help the diagnosis of\ud prosopagnosia. In general, studies using this questionnaire have shown that observers\ud have moderate to strong insights into their face recognition abilities. However, it\ud remains unknown whether these insights are equivalent for the whole range of\ud face recognition abilities. The present study investigates this issue using the\ud Mandarin version of the PI-20 and the Cambridge Face Memory Test Chinese\ud (CFMT-Chinese). Our results showed a moderate negative association between the\ud PI-20 and the CFMT-Chinese. However, this association was driven by people\ud with low and high face recognition ability, but absent in people within the typical\ud range of face recognition performance. The implications of these results for the study\ud of individual differences and the diagnosis of prosopagnosia are discussed.

Seeing a face being touched in spatial and temporal synchrony with the own face produces a bias in self-recognition, whereby the other face becomes more likely to be perceived as the self. The present study employed event-related potentials to explore whether this enfacement effect reflects initial face encoding, enhanced distinctiveness of the enfaced face, modified self-identity representations, or even later processing stages that are associated with the emotional processing of faces. Participants were stroked in synchrony or asynchrony with an unfamiliar face they observed on a monitor in front of them, in a situation approximating a mirror image. Subsequently, event-related potentials were recorded during the presentation of (a) a previously synchronously stimulated face, (b) an asynchronously stimulated face, (c) observers' own face, (d) filler faces, and (e) a to-be-detected target face, which required a response. Observers reported a consistent enfacement illusion after synchronous stimulation. Importantly, the synchronously stimulated face elicited more prominent N170 and P200 responses than the asynchronously stimulated face. By contrast, similar N250 and P300 responses were observed in these conditions. These results suggest that enfacement modulates early neural correlates of face encoding and facial prototypicality, rather than identity self-representations and associated emotional processes.

This study focuses on learning of the self, by examining how human observers update internal representations of their own face. For this purpose, we present a novel gaze-contingent paradigm, in which an onscreen face mimics observers’ own eye-gaze behaviour (in the congruent condition), moves its eyes in different directions to that of the observers (incongruent condition), or remains static and unresponsive (neutral condition). Across three experiments, the mimicry of the onscreen face did not affect observers’ perceptual self-representations. However, this paradigm influenced observers’ reports of their own face. This effect was such that observers felt the onscreen face to be their own and that, if the onscreen gaze had moved on its own accord, observers expected their own eyes to move too. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

espanolPara resolver problemas aritmeticos, los humanos necesitamos tratar con diferentes piezas de informacion. Por esta razon, parece plausible que necesitemos de algun sistema capaz de procesar, retener y manipular dicha informacion. La memoria de trabajo es el sistema encargado de llevar a cabo estos procesos, por lo que podria estar implicado en la resolucion de operaciones aritmeticas. En este sentido, la investigacion empirica ha mostrado que los diferentes componentes de la memoria de trabajo (el ejecutivo central, el bucle fonologico, y la agenda visoespacial) juegan diferentes roles en el proceso de resolucion de problemas aritmeticos. Por otro lado, algunos investigadores sugieren que la discalculia evolutiva, la dificultad para llevar a cabo operaciones matematicas mas frecuente en la poblacion, se caracteriza por un deficit principal en la memoria de trabajo. Sin embargo, estos resultados no han sido siempre replicados. En este articulo se presenta una revision actualizada de la implicacion de la memoria de trabajo en la resolucion de operaciones aritmeticas. Como se vera, cada componente cumple con una funcion especifica en el proceso de resolucion de operaciones aritmeticas. Ademas, la evidencia en contra y apoyando un deficit principal en memoria de trabajo en pacientes con discalculia del desarrollo sera revisada. EnglishTo solve arithmetic problems, humans need to deal with several pieces of information. The working memory system actively stores and manipulates information. For this reason, it seems plausible that this system is involved in solving arithmetic problems. In fact, it has been shown that the different subcomponents of working memory (central executive, phonological loop and visual sketch-pad) play different roles in solving arithmetic problems. On the other hand, some research has shown that the most typical arithmetic disability, that is developmental dyscalculia, is characterized by a main deficit in working memory. However, these results have not been always obtained. In the present article the involvement of working memory in solving arithmetic operations is re-viewed. Moreover, the evidence supporting and against a main impairment in working memory in people with developmental dyscalculia will be discussed.

Introduccion. Los ictus son un problema medico con una alta prevalencia en Espana, y la afasia es una de las secuelas mas comunes. Actualmente, la afasia se trata principalmente con terapia neuropsicologica y farmacologica. Sin embargo, en los ultimos anos, la estimulacion electrica transcraneal por corriente continua se ha presentado como un complemento a los tratamientos mas clasicos. Objetivos. Familiarizar al lector con la estimulacion electrica transcraneal por corriente continua y revisar de forma critica los beneficios de esta tecnica en la rehabilitacion de la afasia. Desarrollo. Tras describir en que consiste la estimulacion electrica transcraneal por corriente continua, posteriormente se analizan las evidencias existentes sobre los efectos de esta tecnica en el tratamiento de la afasia. Para ello se ha realizado una busqueda en la base de datos PubMed y se han revisado 19 estudios, publicados entre 2008 y 2016, en los que se utiliza la estimulacion electrica por corriente continua para el tratamiento de la afasia. Conclusiones. Estos estudios sugieren que la estimulacion electrica transcraneal por corriente continua es efectiva en el tratamiento de la afasia cuando se acompana de terapia neuropsicologica. Ademas, sus beneficios parecen ser mayores cuando se aplica durante al menos cinco sesiones con intensidades superiores a 1 mA, estimulando zonas perilesionales, y en pacientes con afasias fluentes. Los estudios tambien sugieren que esta tecnica no debe entenderse nunca como sustitutiva de la terapia neuropsicologica, sino como una forma de preparar al cerebro para esta.

When two letters/digits/symbols are switched in a string (e.g., jugde-judge; 1492-1942; *?$-*$?), the resulting strings are perceptually similar to each other and produce a sizable masked transposition priming effect with the masked priming same-different matching task. However, a parallel effect does not occur for strings of pseudoletters (e.g., [letters in the text]); García-Orza, Perea,Muñoz, Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 63, 1603-1618, 2010). In the present study, we examined whether masked transposition priming is specific to alphanumeric stimuli or whether it also occurs with strings composed of other "objects"-namely, line drawings of common objects (Experiment 1) and geometrical shapes (Experiment 2). Results showed a significant masked transposition priming effect for geometrical shapes (e.g., [geometrical shapes in the text]), but not for line drawings of common objects (e.g., [symbols in the text]). These findings suggest that the mechanism involved in the coding of position in masked priming works only with perceptually simple, familiar "objects" (i.e., letters, numbers, symbols, or geometrical shapes), once their identities have been well ascertained.

The evidence showing that simple multiplications and additions can be solved by direct retrieval is considerable. However evidence about division and subtraction is less compelling. By using a "cross-operation interference paradigm" the present research explores whether subtraction problems can be retrieved without intention and the role of operands' problem-size in this process. Sixty-two participants decided whether the displayed addition was correct or not. In "false additions problems" the answer could be the result of the subtractions of the addends (e.g., 7 + 4 = 3) or an unrelated number (e.g., 7 + 4 = 5). Results showed an interference effect, that is, more errors and slower response times in subtraction related problems than in unrelated problems. More importantly, this effect was restricted to small problems (7 + 4 = 3 vs. 7 + 4 = 5), whereas no differences were found for large problems (14 + 8 = 6 vs. 14 + 8 = 7). These results suggest that small subtractions can be retrieved directly as multiplications, questioning a traditional dissociation between operations. We argue that, depending on individual experience, the same representation and processes can be involved in solving additions, subtractions and multiplications. Existe considerable evidencia que muestra que las multiplicaciones y las sumas simples se resuelven de manera directa y automática. Sin embargo, la evidencia sobre la automaticidad de restas y divisiones es menos convincente. Usando el paradigma de interferencia en la operación, el presente estudio explora si el resultado de una resta puede ser recuperado inintencionadamente y el rol que juega el tamaño del problema en este proceso. Sesenta y dos participantes tomaron parte en este estudio y tenían que decidir si el resultado de una adición era o no correcto. En las adiciones incorrectas el resultado podía ser la sustracción de los sumandos (7 + 4 = 3) o un número no relacionado (7 + 4 = 5). Nuestros resultados mostraron más errores y respuestas mas lentas en aquellos problemas cuyo resultado era la sustracción de los sumandos que en los problemas no relacionados. Sin embargo, estos resultados sólo se encontraron en problemas pequeños (7 + 4 = 3 vs. 7 + 4 = 5) y no en problemas más grandes (14 + 8 = 6 vs. 14 + 8 = 7). Estos resultados sugieren que las sustracciones pequeñas pueden ser recuperadas directamente, cuestionando la existencia de disociaciones entre operaciones. Argumentamos que dependiendo de nuestra experiencia, las mismas representaciones y procesos pueden estar implicados en la resolución de multiplicaciones, adiciones y sustracciones.