Differential hemispheric processing of faces: Methodological considerations and reinterpretation.

Examines the procedures and stimuli (physiognomies) used in lateralized face recognition experiments with normal Ss, as well as in related perceptual and identification experiments. Results reveal that in general a left visual field (right hemisphere) advantage is obtained when: (a) stimulus information is degraded; (b) faces to be compared are highly discriminable; (c) set of unfamiliar faces is used; and (d) task requirements allow a lax criterion of recognition. These conditions seem to make holistic processing adequate for the task; if the conditions require analytic judgments, then a right visual field (left hemisphere) advantage may be obtained. Thus, no hemifield has an inherent or absolute advantage and these procedural conditions may critically determine what hemifield advantage is observed in any given experiment with faces (or other types of stimuli). Apparently, both hemispheres may contribute to the processing of faces but their contributions vary as a function of task demands. A right hemisphere advantage may reflect an enhanced role of the processes of configuration, completion, categorization, or set. A left hemisphere advantage need not involve the language function but it may reflect a genuine visuospatial contribution. (60 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)