Orientation-invariance of individual differences in three face processing tasks.

G Meinhardt,B Meinhardt-Injac,M Persike

doi:10.1098/rsos.181350

G Meinhardt, B Meinhardt-Injac + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181350

Copy DOI

Abstract

Numerous studies have reported impairments in perception and recognition, and, particularly, in part-integration of faces following picture-plane inversion. Whether these findings support the notion that inversion changes face processing qualitatively remains a topic of debate. To examine whether associations and dissociations of the human face processing ability depend on stimulus orientation, we measured face recognition with the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT), along with experimental tests of face perception and selective attention to faces and non-face objects in a sample of 314 participants. Results showed strong inversion effects for all face-related tasks, and modest ones for non-face objects. Individual differences analysis revealed that the CFMT shared common variance with face perception and face-selective attention, however, independent of orientation. Regardless of whether predictor and criterion had same or different orientation, face recognition was best predicted by the same test battery. Principal component decomposition revealed a common factor for face recognition and face perception, a second common factor for face recognition and face-selective attention, and two unique factors. The patterns of factor loadings were nearly identical for upright and inverted presentation. These results indicate orientation-invariance of common variance in three domains of face processing. Since inversion impaired performance, but did not affect domain-related associations and dissociations, the findings suggest process-specific but orientation-general mechanisms. Specific limitations by constraints of individual differences analysis and test selection are discussed.

Highlights

In the last two decades, the face inversion effect has received much attention across all disciplines of face perception research
Results from neuroimaging studies suggest that inverted faces engage face-tuned areas in the ventral stream, and areas that preferentially respond to non-face objects, which might indicate a change of the processing route [4,13]
There were no highly significant correlations with SPPO conditions in the low opacity condition, while there were correlations among SPPF and SPPO for high opacity. This indicates that correctly perceiving the target when it is strongly masked reflects some common ability across faces and non-face object categories

Summary

Introduction

In the last two decades, the face inversion effect has received much attention across all disciplines of face perception research. Phenomenologically striking, the impression of grotesqueness in face pictures with rotated eyes and mouth (‘Thatcher illusion’; [5,6]) is greatly attenuated in upside-down faces This led to the conjecture that spatial-configural information processing is intact in the usual upright orientation, but disrupted by inversion [7 –9]. Results from neuroimaging studies suggest that inverted faces engage face-tuned areas in the ventral stream, and areas that preferentially respond to non-face objects, which might indicate a change of the processing route [4,13]. The N170, an event-related potential from occipitotemporal electrodes, shows a significant delay for inverted compared to upright faces [15,16] These results might indicate involvement of different mechanisms for upright and inverted faces

Results

Discussion

Conclusion