Wheatley Et Al. ( 2011 ) Study

The mechanisms underlying how the human visual system processes and identifies objects remain to be under investigation, however it is clear that visual recognition can function on many levels including coarse categories – for example identifying a bird, and highly specific subjects –identifying a blue jay. It can be argued that performing both of these identification tasks may require two separate recognition systems; one of category membership and another of individuation (Kanwisher et al., 2004). One variation of this argument questions whether there is a difference between mechanisms utilized to perform object recognition at a basic level and face recognition at an individual level. Specifically, a controversy exists regarding the function of a specific area of the brain called the fusiform face area (FFA), and whether it is selectively activated by faces only, or if it discriminates between any familiar stimuli. Both sides of this argument are supported by evidence from research.

This double dissociation therefore suggests that recognition of faces and common objects is served by different mechanisms that are independent for each other. Although brain cells of face recognition have not been located, some functional models could help us interpret face recognition and prosopagnosia. One of the most influential models was proposed by Bruce and Young (1986). In this model face recognition involves several steps, and three steps more relate to prosopagnosia.

Four AP Biology classes performed this experiment and the data presented in this report will reflect the averages of said classes. In the later discussion sections, it will become

Anderson, N., Schlueter, J. E., Carlson, J. F., & Geisinger, K. F. (Eds.). (2016). Tests In Print IX. Lincoln, NE: Buros Center for Testing.

There are several different types of psychological and neurological phenomena that individuals live with every day. One of most interesting conditions that many individuals might not be aware of is prosopagnosia or face blindness. Prosopagnosia is the inability to recognize and distinguish faces. For example, individuals with this condition could have difficulty recognizing their child’s, spouse’s, parent’s, or friend’s face. Many individuals with prosopagnosia will rely on other features to distinguish between other people, such as hair style or color, voices, or posture. As discussed in Chapter 3, prosopagnosia is thought to affect the Fusiform Face Area.

similar test settings available in the literature [Daniels et al., 1995,Bano et al., 2009,Capozzoli et al., 2012].

It was hypothesized that interpretation of an ambiguous stimuli that can be perceived as either a rat or a human face will be influenced by the context under which they view the figure and their past experience with other figures. That is they will be influenced by their perceptual set.

Prosopagnosia is a condition where a person cannot recognise familiar faces, but only the features, not the whole face. The condition contradicts the model as it suggests that the process are most likely not separate. As most patients had severe problems with facial expression as well as facial identity, this suggests they are processed separately. The model can also be seen as reductionist, as it only gives a vague description of what the cognitive system does. However, there is research that does support the concept that there are two are separate paths for processing face recognition and facial expression. One being Humphreys, Avidan, and Behrmann (2007) who studied three participants with developmental prosopagnosia. All three had poor ability to recognise faces, but their ability to recognise facial expressions was similar to that of healthy

This implies that bilateral and unilateral hippocampus does not contribute majorly to familiarity and recollection of unknown human’s faces.

PETTLEP model, founded upon functional equivalence, is a notion that imagery, motor preparation and performance share common brain mechanisms. Holmes and Collins suggested that to maximise functional equivalence, the physical nature of imagery should

The use of PLD is prominent in studies which have undeniably influenced Parron et als’ research, particularly when measuring recognition of biological motion (Moore, Hobson & Lee, 1997 as cited in Parron et al,

Overly, the model provides coherent explanation of many kind of information about faces and how they relate to each other. It provides evidence about significant differences in processing of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Nonetheless there are limitations. For instance, there is not enough information about processing unfamiliar faces. Burton et al. (1999)

Another experiment by psychologist Robert Miller and his colleagues was designed to see if a monkey was able to interpret another monkey’s facial expression. The researchers trained rhesus monkeys to pull a lever to avoid getting shocked after a

Prosopagnosia is defined as the difficulty in recognizing an individuals face; it is broken down into 3 main types; Apperceptive prosopagnosia, associative prosopagnosia and developmental prosopagnosia. Perception is an important aspect when recognizing faces, without recognizing the stimulus (face) you would not be able to identify a person. Therefore the individuals who sufferer from this disorder is unable to accurately recognize a face whether that be the face of a familiar person such as a family member or close friend, the face of a famous person, or even their own face. This paper will look at prosopagnosia in greater detail, it will explain the 3 main types, as well as give insight as to why face recognition is important in our

Bruce and Young’s theory of recognition tells us that human’s extract several kinds of information from faces; and that there are eight different components of such information. Such as structural encoding, expression analysis, facial speech analysis, directed visual processing, face recognition nodes,