Processing of low spatial frequency faces at periphery in choice reaching tasks.

Bhuvanesh Awasthi, Jason Friedman, Mark A Williams

Journal: Neuropsychologia 2011;49(7):2136-41

PMID: 21397615

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Various aspects of face processing have been associated with distinct ranges of spatial frequencies. Configural processing of faces depends chiefly on low spatial frequency (LSF) information whereas high spatial frequency (HSF) supports feature based processing. However, it has also been argued that face processing has a foveal-bias (HSF channels dominate the fovea). Here we used reach trajectories as a continuous behavioral measure to study perceptual processing of faces. Experimental stimuli were LSF-HSF hybrids of male and female faces superimposed and were presented peripherally and centrally. Subject reached out to touch a specified sex and their movements were recorded. The reaching trajectories reveal that there is less effect of (interference by) LSF faces at fovea as compared to periphery while reaching to HSF targets. These results demonstrate that peripherally presented LSF information, carried chiefly by magnocellular channels, enables efficient processing of faces, possibly via a retinotectal (subcortical) pathway.

Address: Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.03.003

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Analysis of Variance, Choice Behavior, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Face, Female, Humans, Male, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Space Perception, Visual Perception