Aberrant pattern of scanning in prosopagnosia reflects impaired face processing.
Visual scanpath recording was used to investigate the information processing strategies used by a prosopagnosic patient, SC, when viewing faces. Compared to controls, SC showed an aberrant pattern of scanning, directing attention away from the internal configuration of facial features (eyes, nose) towards peripheral regions (hair, forehead) of the face. The results suggest that SC's face recognition deficit can be linked to an inability to assemble an accurate and unified face percept due to an abnormal allocation of attention away from the internal face region. Extraction of stimulus attributes necessary for face identity recognition is compromised by an aberrant face scanning pattern.
Stephan
Blossom Christa Maree
BC
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, CB2 2SR, UK. bcms2@cam.ac.uk
Caine
Diana
D
D000328:Adult; D005133:Eye Movements; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D020238:Prosopagnosia / Q000523:psychology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult