Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
Published on: March 18, 2019
Are you always on my mind? A review of how face perception and attention interact
Romina Palermo1, Gillian Rhodes
1Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science (MACCS), Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Sydney, Australia. rpalermo@maccs.mq.edu.au
Abstract:
In this review we examine how attention is involved in detecting faces, recognizing facial identity and registering and discriminating between facial expressions of emotion. The first section examines whether these aspects of face perception are "automatic", in that they are especially rapid, non-conscious, mandatory and capacity-free. The second section discusses whether limited-capacity selective attention mechanisms are preferentially recruited by faces and facial expressions. Evidence from behavioral, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and psychophysiological studies from humans and single-unit recordings from primates is examined and the neural systems involved in processing faces, emotion and attention are highlighted. Avenues for further research are identified.
Related Concept Videos
Association Areas of the Cortex
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
Parallel Processing
First Impression
Gestalt Principles of Perception
Introducing Social Perception

