Recognizing objects and faces

Abstract

We review evidence and theories concerning the processing mechanisms leading to the visual recognition of objects and faces. A good deal of work suggests that identification of objects at a basic level depends on edge-coding, whereas face recognition depends more on representations of surface properties such as colour and shading. Moreover, basic-level object recognition seems to involve a parts-based description, whereas face recognition depends upon more holistic processing. This work distinguishes between the visual processes mediating the recognition of objects and faces. However, when the demands of object recognition are made more similar to those of face recognition, then there appear to be some similarities in the perceptual representations used for objects and faces. Moreover, when we progress beyond the stage of perceptual representation to consider the organization of cognitive stages involved in the full identification of objects and faces, there are marked similarities in the processing of these different kinds of material. We discuss the implications of the results for understanding visual identification, in normality and in pathology