Dual-task interference patterns reveal differential processing of upright and inverted faces.
The concurrent-task method was used to investigate the hemispheric locus of face encoding. In each of three experiments, 48 right-handed adults performed unimanual finger tapping while encoding whole or partial faces for subsequent recognition. Faces were upright in Experiments 1 and 2 but inverted in Experiment 3. Irrespective of stimulus orientation, face encoding disrupted left- and right-hand tapping equally. Upright faces were less accurately recognized if learned during left-hand tapping than during right-hand tapping; inverted faces showed no lateralized interference. The results support tachistoscopic findings that indicate predominantly right-hemispheric processing of upright faces and bilateral processing of inverted faces.
Hillis
S K
SK
University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Hiscock
M
M
Rexer
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014796:Visual Perception