Multiple modes of right-hemisphere information processing: Age and sex differences in facial recognition.

Examined hemispheric differences in processing tachistoscopically presented faces in 8-, 11-, and 13-yr-old children of above-average intelligence. Ss viewed 4 female faces and were then asked to point to the face presented on each trial. The finding of a bimodal distribution of error scores among those Ss who showed a left visual-field (LVF) advantage supports the view that there are 2 types of information processing associated with the right hemisphere. The error scores of the younger Ss with an LVF advantage were unimodal and those of the 13-yr-olds bimodal. This bimodality characterized only the older girls. Since the unimodal error scores for the younger Ss were at a relatively high level, the data were interpreted as indicating that younger children and males at all ages use a diffuse right-hemisphere processing strategy in recognizing faces, whereas some older females use a more integrated right-hemisphere strategy. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)