Individual Differences and Asymmetry Effects in Memory for Unfamiliar Faces

Abstract

Visual field effects for recognition of unfamiliar faces was investigated using memory intervals of 0, 10, and 20 sec. and 8 stimuli in a same-different comparison paradigm. In Experiment I, 24 male and 24 female familial righthanders, half of whom had high and the other half, low Block Design (BD) scaled scores participated. Faces were recognized significantly more often in the LVF. A visual field x memory interval interaction resulted from reliable LVF superiorities with the 0 and 10 sec. memory intervals and a non-significant RVF superiority with the 20 sec. memory interval. Performance decreased significantly as the duration of the memory interval increased. No sex differences were found. Subjects with high and low BD scores performed similarly. In Experiment II, 16 stimuli were employed and the task repeated. Twenty-four male and 24 female familial righthanderds were given the BD and Vocabulary subtests of the WAIS as well as a brightness discrimination task. Field effects were non-significant. Performance decreased with longer memory intervals. For males, field effects for the 0 sec. memory interval were positively related to brightness discrimination scores.