Perceptual load effects on processing distractor faces indicate face-specific capacity limits

Abstract

The claim that face perception is mediated by a specialized “face module” that proceeds automatically, independently of attention (e.g., Kanwisher, 2000) can be reconciled with load theory claims that visual perception has limited capacity (e.g., Lavie, 1995) by hypothesizing that face perception has face-specific capacity limits. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the effects of face and nonface perceptual load on distractor face processing. Participants searched a central array of either faces or letter strings for a pop star versus politician's face or name and made speeded classification responses. Perceptual load was varied through the relevant search set size. Response competition effects from a category-congruent or -incongruent peripheral distractor face were eliminated with more than two faces in the face search task, but were unaffected by perceptual load in the name search task. These results support the hypothesis that face perception has face-specific capacity limits and resolve apparent discrepancies in previous research.

Keywords:

• Attention
• Perceptual load
• Face recognition
• Modularity
• Processing capacity

Notes

¹ Set size three was chosen as a maximum because pilot data showed that this was sufficient to load face perception with a greater set size inducing “data limits” (likely to be due to the reduced acuity in the periphery) as reflected in a substantial increase in the error rates.

² We thank an anonymous reviewer for suggesting this alternative interpretation.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a Medical Research Council (UK) Grant No. G9805400 (NL).