A Comparative Approach to Testing Face Perception: Face and object identification by adults in a simultaneous matching task

Abstract

Experimental studies of face perception tend to use small samples of participants taken from a narrow age range. This often makes it difficult to use the results in clinical studies. Combined with the fact that current face processing tests are of limited use for an in depth analysis of prosopagnosia it is often difficult to assess face recognition problems. Here we present the results from a study of a wide age group (21-50 yrs) tested with a comprehensive face perception battery that was developed to provide a new tool for critically measuring intact face perception. We critically review existing tests and motivate our choice for the present design which is unique in that it uses in the same task setting faces and objects and therefore allows a more specific evaluation of face specific abilities than was hitherto possible.