Visual-field differences in recognition of male and female faces.

Abstract

Variations in the normally observed advantage for facial recognition of stimuli in the left visual field have been observed as a function of changes in stimulus attributes. The present study examined whether the interaction between the sex of the subject and sex of the stimulus face also results in variations in effects of visual field. This possibility was suggested by a number of free-field studies which indicated an interaction between these two factors on the accuracy of facial recognition. 16 volunteers viewed a series of male and female faces presented tachistoscopically to the left and right visual fields. When the sex of the subject and the sex of the stimulus face were the same, superiority for presentation in the left visual field was demonstrated ( p < .05). In addition, although female faces were more difficult to recognize than male faces ( p < .01), this did not influence the visual-field effect. These results were discussed in terms of both the sex-of-face effect and visual-field differences in facial recognition.