2.21 - Face Recognition

Abstract

Face recognition is critical to social interaction and it has received extensive attention from researchers using a range of methods. Herein, we review key findings regarding the cognitive basis, neural basis, neuropsychological impairments, and development of face recognition. These studies indicate that face recognition involves a number of separate processes, including some processes that are specialized for faces. Cognitive experiments demonstrate that faces are represented in a more holistic manner than other objects which produces precise representations of both the features and their configuration. Neurophysiological studies have revealed a number of regions in the ventral visual pathway that are preferentially activated and recent monkey work demonstrates that at least one of these areas consists entirely of face-selective neurons. Damage or developmental failures affecting neural areas involved with face recognition can lead to a variety of face recognition deficits, most notably prosopagnosia. Finally, we outline the development of face recognition abilities.