Regional Selectivity For Face Holistic Processing: Phenomenon And Explanation

Holistic processing is the cognitive mechanism of human’s rapid, efficient face recognition ability. Holistic processing is a quick and brief course. During this course, how does information of different type from different face regions involve in holistic processing? Results from previous work demonstrated an upper-face advantage in face cognition. To verify such an upper face advantage in face holistic processing, too, and further examine its explanation, we conducted two researches to investigate the role of different type information from different region in holistic processing(Study 1) and the change of attention perceptual field in different region(Study 2).Study 1 mainly focused on the role of information from different region and different type. Study 1 was composed of experiment 1 and experiment 2. In experiment 1, 30 participants were asked to judge whether the upper or lower parts of two successive faces were same or different; In experiment 2, 30 and 31 participants were asked to compare the upper-(Experiment 2a) or lowerparts(Experiment 2b) of two successive faces, respectively. Results were as follows:(1) The composite-face effect was significantly stronger for the upper parts condition than for the lower parts condition.(2) The composite-face effect could be detected in both configural and featural conditions for the upper parts condition.The focus of Study 2 was the change of attention perceptual field in different region. Face morphing approach was used in this study. In experiment 3, 31 participants were asked to gaze at different regions of morphing faces, the ratio of “peripheral” face response was measured. In experiment 4, 48 participants were asked to gaze at at different regions of morphing faces for different duration, the morphing faces were presented upright or inverse. Results were as follows:(1) The size of perceptual field is larger when gazing at upper parts of face.(2) The efficiency is higher when when gazing at upper parts of face.To summary:(1) The region rather than the type of information play a more important role in holistic processing. There exists upper face advantage in holistic processing.(2) Both configural information and featural information can be involved in holistic processing.(3) The upper face advantage in holistic processing manifest as larger size of perceptual field and more efficient time utilization when gazing at upper parts of face.