title: Three studies on configural face processing by chimpanzees.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated the sensitivity of chimpanzees to facial configurations. Three studies further these findings by showing this sensitivity to be specific to second-order relational properties. In humans, this type of configural processing requires prolonged experience and enables subordinate-level discriminations of many individuals. Chimpanzees showed evidence of a composite-like effect for conspecific but not human faces despite extensive experience with humans. Chimpanzee face recognition was impaired only when manipulations targeted second-order properties. Finally, face processing was impaired when individual features were blurred through pixelation. Results confirm that chimpanzee face discrimination, like humans, depends on the integrity of second-order relational properties.
authors: Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. parr@rmy.emory.edu
authors: Lisa A
authors: LA
authors: Parr
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Heintz
authors: Unoma
authors: U
authors: Akamagwuna