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Face Recognition is Shaped by the Use of Sign Language.
Chloé Stoll1, Richard Palluel-Germain1, Roberto Caldara2
1Univ. Grenoble Alpes.
Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
|October 5, 2017
Summary
Sign language users, both deaf and hearing, show a speed-accuracy trade-off in face recognition, indicating strategic differences in processing facial identity, not solely due to deafness.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psycholinguistics
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Previous studies suggest differences in face processing among early deaf signers.
- The specific aspects of face processing affected and the role of sign language remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare face categorization and recognition performance in early deaf signers, hearing signers, and hearing non-signers.
- To investigate the influence of sign language use and deafness on face processing strategies.
Main Methods:
- Participants included early profoundly deaf signers, hearing signers, and hearing non-signers.
- Face categorization (human/non-human) and human face recognition tasks were administered.
- Response time and accuracy were measured for both tasks.
Main Results:
- All groups performed similarly in face categorization accuracy and response time.
- Signers (deaf and hearing) exhibited slower but more accurate face recognition compared to hearing non-signers.
- A speed-accuracy trade-off was observed in face recognition but not face categorization.
Conclusions:
- Sign language experience, rather than deafness itself, influences face recognition strategies.
- Individuals using sign language demonstrate distinct facial identity processing, irrespective of hearing status.
- These findings highlight the impact of linguistic modality on cognitive processes.
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