The development of face expertise.
Recent neuroimaging studies in adults indicate that visual areas selective for recognition of faces can be recruited through expertise for nonface objects. This reflects a new emphasis on experience in theories of visual specialization. In addition, novel work infers differences between categories of nonface objects, allowing a re-interpretation of differences seen between recognition of faces and objects. Whether there are experience-independent precursors of face expertise remains unclear; indeed, parallels between literature for infants and adults suggest that methodological issues need to be addressed before strong conclusions can be drawn regarding the origins of face recognition.
Gauthier
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Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Wilson Hall, Nashville, TN 37240, USA. isabel.gauthier@vanderbilt.edu
Nelson
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D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020238:Prosopagnosia / Q000503:physiopathology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*