Reverse correlation method, Face memory representation, Derogation effect

Abstract

Face memory has been examined using recognition tasks. Although this can examine whether people have face memories, it is difficult to reveal how to represent them. To address it, the reverse correlation method has recently been applied. This study employed it and investigated the derogation effect on face memory, in which women with romantic partners are less sensitive to male attractiveness than those without partners. In the experiment, participants memorized an attractive/unattractive face and judged which of the two noisy faces they had memorized. Based on the judgments and noises, memory representations were reproduced, and different participants rated them. The results showed that women with romantic partners had lower attractiveness sensitivities not only to males but also to females. Furthermore, different from women, men with romantic partners showed higher attractiveness sensitivities. This suggests that the reverse correlation method can provide evidence of individual biases in face memory representations.