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Regional variation in the inversion effect for faces: differential effects for feature shape, feature configuration,
George L Malcolm1, Connie Leung, Jason J S Barton
1Department of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JU, Scotland, UK.
Perception
|February 8, 2005
Summary
Face perception relies on an orientation-dependent mechanism. This study reveals that upright faces are processed holistically, particularly the spatial relationships between features, indicating an efficient whole-face processing system.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Vision Science
Background:
- Human face perception utilizes an orientation-dependent mechanism.
- Previous research indicated inversion disproportionately impairs perception of lower face spatial relations compared to the more salient upper face.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the interaction between face inversion and regional salience is specific to second-order spatial relations or affects other structural information.
- To determine if rapid whole-face processing is specific to internal second-order (coordinate) spatial relations.
Main Methods:
- An oddity paradigm was employed to assess discrimination of feature size, spatial relations, and external contour changes in upper and lower face regions.
- Subjects also discriminated between second-order spatial changes (plausible alternatives) and illegal spatial changes (violating facial geometry rules).
- Stimuli were presented briefly to examine perceptual asymmetries between upper and lower face regions in upright and inverted faces.
Main Results:
- All structural changes were harder to perceive in inverted faces.
- A significant asymmetry between upper and lower face perception was observed specifically for spatial relation changes, with poorer performance in the lower face region.
- This asymmetry was pronounced for second-order spatial relations but absent for illegal spatial changes.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that the orientation-dependent face processing mechanism possesses a rapid whole-face capacity.
- This capacity appears to be specific to the internal second-order (coordinate) spatial relations of facial features, rather than other structural aspects like feature size or contour.
- The results support a specialized system for processing the precise spatial geometry of facial features in an upright orientation.
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