Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.6
2.8
Journals
Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception
share announcement

Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Cognitive, Social and Affective Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 10180

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Karen Lander

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Interests: face recognition; face perception; biological motion; individual differences
Dr. Rachel Bennetts

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, UK
Interests: face recognition; face perception; prosopagnosia; development; developmental disorders; eye movements
Dr. Natalie Butcher

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK
Interests: face recognition; face perception; biological motion; race; social processing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the 1960s, we have learnt a considerable amount about the cognitive and neural underpinnings of face perception and recognition. We have explored different types of face perception tasks—from detection to identification—as well as the specialised processes underpinning them. We have published cognitive and neural models of face perception. More recently, we have started to consider the importance of individual differences in our face perception and recognition ability, both within the general population and in people whose face recognition is extremely poor (developmental prosopagnosia) or extremely good (super-recognisers). Further, we have identified atypical face identity perception and recognition in a number of other disorders, such as developmental dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and some neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions.

This Special Issue aims to advance our knowledge of face perception and disorders that affect face perception. This encompasses experimental, neural, computational, patient-based, and real-world studies of face perception or recognition and its disorders. We encourage papers that advance our understanding of the neural or cognitive underpinnings of the face processing system, and/or the mechanisms associated with atypical face perception and disorders affecting face perception.

Original articles, literature reviews, meta-analyses, brief reports, and commentaries are welcomed.

Dr. Karen Lander
Dr. Rachel Bennetts
Dr. Natalie Butcher
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • face perception
  • face recognition
  • prosopagnosia
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • individual differences
  • clinical disorders

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 476 KB  
Article
Implicit Extraversion Face–Trait Judgements in Developmental Prosopagnosia
by Chithra Kannan and Jeremy Tree
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(3), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16030275 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 468
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by lifelong difficulties in face recognition. Although substantial work has examined identity-processing impairments in DP, less is known about whether these difficulties extend to other aspects of social cognition, including implicit trait judgements [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by lifelong difficulties in face recognition. Although substantial work has examined identity-processing impairments in DP, less is known about whether these difficulties extend to other aspects of social cognition, including implicit trait judgements from faces. Prior research using Implicit Association Task (IAT) paradigms shows that neurotypical observers can automatically associate facial composites with personality traits such as extraversion. Although some studies report preserved explicit social evaluations in DP, to our knowledge, no previous work has assessed whether individuals with DP can form implicit personality trait impressions from faces. Methods: Using a cross-sectional experimental design, the present study examined whether adults with DP (N = 36) exhibit implicit extraversion trait associations, using a validated extraversion IAT online via Gorilla, following institutional ethics approval. Results: Group-level analyses showed a significant IAT effect, indicating sensitivity to congruent face–trait pairings. Single-case analyses using Crawford and Garthwaite’s modified t-test showed that no participant scored significantly below the normative neurotypical range. Conclusions: These findings indicate that implicit trait inference performance can remain within the normative range in DP despite severe identity recognition impairments, consistent with relative independence between social-evaluative and identity-related face-processing mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 1329 KB  
Article
Anxiety-Related Modulation of Early Neural Responses to Task-Irrelevant Emotional Faces
by Eligiusz Wronka
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16010026 - 25 Dec 2025
Viewed by 677
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that high anxiety is associated with biased processing of threat-related stimuli and that anxious individuals may be particularly sensitive to facial expressions of fear or anger. In addition, these effects may [...] Read more.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that high anxiety is associated with biased processing of threat-related stimuli and that anxious individuals may be particularly sensitive to facial expressions of fear or anger. In addition, these effects may result from a specific pattern occurring in the early stages of visual information processing. Methods: Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were recorded in response to task-irrelevant pictures of faces presented in either an upright or inverted position in two groups differing in trait anxiety, as assessed by scores on the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Behavioural responses and ERP activity were also recorded in response to simple neutral visual stimuli presented during exposure to the facial stimuli, which served as probe-targets. Results: A typical Face Inversion Effect was observed, characterised by longer latencies and greater amplitudes of the early P1 and N170 ERP components. Differences between low- and high-anxious individuals emerged at parieto-occipital sites within the time window of the early P1 component. The later stage of face processing, indexed by the N170 component, was not affected by the level of trait anxiety. Conclusions: The results of this experiment indicate that anxiety level modulates the initial stages of information processing, as reflected in the P1 component. This may be associated with anxiety-related differences in the involuntary processing of face detection of emotional expression. Consequently, a greater attentional engagement appears to occur in highly anxious individuals, leading to delayed behavioural responses to concurrently presented neutral stimuli. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 965 KB  
Article
Subjective Face Recognition Ability Is Linked to Objective Face Memory and Face Authenticity Judgment: Validation of the Traditional Chinese Version of the 20-Item Prosopagnosia Index
by Hai-Ting Wang, Kai-Mon Chuang, Taniya Rawat, Jia-Ling Lyu, Majeed Ali and Sarina Hui-Lin Chien
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111186 - 31 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1588
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by lifelong face recognition difficulties. The 20-item Prosopagnosia Index (PI-20) has become an important tool for screening individuals with DP and has been validated across various groups of English speakers worldwide. Recently, other language [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by lifelong face recognition difficulties. The 20-item Prosopagnosia Index (PI-20) has become an important tool for screening individuals with DP and has been validated across various groups of English speakers worldwide. Recently, other language versions of PI-20, such as a Simplified Chinese one, have been developed and validated. Given the significant differences between Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, as well as the distinct user populations, this study aims to validate a Traditional Chinese adaptation of the PI-20 using a standardized face memory task and a novel face authenticity judgment task in Mandarin-speaking populations. Methods and Results: In Study 1 (n = 94) and Study 2 (n = 138), we tested two large independent samples of college students using the English PI-20 and the Traditional Chinese PI-20, respectively. The results show strong internal consistency and similar score distributions in both versions of the PI-20. In Study 3 (n = 64), we examined the correlation between PI-20 scores and performance on the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT). We found a significant correlation with the CFMT score and the Traditional Chinese version, but not with the English version PI-20. In Study 4 (n = 32), we examined whether PI-20 scores correlated with a face authenticity judgment task where participants judged whether the face image was real or AI-synthesized. Results showed that PI-20 negatively correlated with accuracy in judging real faces, but not with judging AI-synthesized faces. Conclusions: Overall, this study shows that although Taiwanese participants validly respond to the original PI-20, the Traditional Chinese version exhibited a stronger association with their objective face memory skills and showed a link to participants’ knowledge about real faces, which is a new finding. The Traditional Chinese PI-20 can serve as a dependable and useful tool in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 5929 KB  
Article
Consistent Eye Movement Patterns in Static and Dynamic Face Recognition: A Hidden Markov Model Study
by Rachel J. Bennetts, Natalie Butcher and Karen Lander
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1173; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111173 - 30 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1241
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Eye movements provide important insights into face processing. Hidden Markov models of eye movements (EMHMMs) are a relatively new approach that identifies common patterns across observers, moving beyond region-of-interest analyses. Prior EMHMM studies with static faces have typically revealed two strategies: a [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Eye movements provide important insights into face processing. Hidden Markov models of eye movements (EMHMMs) are a relatively new approach that identifies common patterns across observers, moving beyond region-of-interest analyses. Prior EMHMM studies with static faces have typically revealed two strategies: a central “holistic” style and a feature-based “analytical” style. However, it is unknown whether such patterns extend to dynamic faces, which more closely reflect real-world viewing. This study is the first to apply EMHMMs to dynamic face recognition. Methods: Participants completed a face learning task in which half of the identities were presented as static images and half as dynamic videos. Eye movements were analysed using EMHMMs during both learning and recognition phases. Results: Two consistent patterns emerged across conditions: Central-focused and Eye-focused. A small subgroup displayed a third, central-plus-right-eye pattern when learning static faces. Eye movement patterns were largely stable across static and dynamic conditions, with only 16–27% of participants switching between them. Patterns were generally unrelated to recognition accuracy; however, participants adopting Eye-focused patterns during static learning performed better on static recognition. Conclusions: EMHMM-identified patterns generalise from static to dynamic faces, indicating strong stability in face-viewing behaviour across stimulus types. This finding contrasts with previous region-of-interest analyses suggesting greater differences between static and dynamic faces. By extending EMHMMs to dynamic faces, this study underscores the value of diverse analytical approaches for capturing eye movement behaviour and advancing understanding in face processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1194 KB  
Article
No Association Between Face Recognition and Spatial Navigation: Evidence from Developmental Prosopagnosia and Super-Recognizers
by Alejandro J. Estudillo, Olivia Dark, Jan M. Wiener and Sarah Bate
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111140 - 24 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1298
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Previous studies have reported associations between prosopagnosia and spatial navigation, but it remains unclear whether this link is merely coincidental (i.e., observable only in prosopagnosia) or genuinely interdependent (i.e., such that variation in one ability predicts variation in the other across the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Previous studies have reported associations between prosopagnosia and spatial navigation, but it remains unclear whether this link is merely coincidental (i.e., observable only in prosopagnosia) or genuinely interdependent (i.e., such that variation in one ability predicts variation in the other across the full spectrum of face-recognition abilities). This study aimed to directly test this possibility by examining the relationship between face recognition and navigational skills in developmental prosopagnosics (DPs), super-recognizers (SRs), and control participants. Methods: Eighteen DPs, sixteen SRs, and twenty-eight control participants were tested in a recently validated route-learning task, in which they were asked to memorize a route from a first-person perspective. In the subsequent test stages, both route repetition and route retracing were assessed. Results: Group analyses showed comparable performance in route repetition and retracing across the three groups. Single-case analyses confirmed these findings and indicated that only two DPs and two SRs performed worse than control participants in route retracing. Conclusions: These findings suggest that spatial navigation and face recognition are not directly associated and therefore appear to be different skills. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1111 KB  
Article
Exploring Face Perception Efficiency in Patients with Lacunar Stroke: A Study with Familiar and Unfamiliar Face Recognition
by Chi-Yu Lin, Mary Wen-Reng Ho and Sarina Hui-Lin Chien
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(10), 1072; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15101072 - 30 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1406
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke being the most common type. This study investigated face perception in patients with lacunar strokes, specifically examining the ability to distinguish and recognize familiar and unfamiliar faces. Methods: We [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke being the most common type. This study investigated face perception in patients with lacunar strokes, specifically examining the ability to distinguish and recognize familiar and unfamiliar faces. Methods: We tested 52 patients with lacunar stroke (mean age = 65.97 ± 9.96) and 28 age-matched healthy controls (HC) (mean age = 66.24 ± 10.15). The participants received three face perception tasks: Name that Celebrity, Identity Sorting Task, and Face & Object Solitaire, and were also given the MMSE and mRS clinical assessments. Results: For the Name that Celebrity task, the stroke group had a lower efficiency score than the control group (i.e., they needed 2–3 extra slides of cues to recognize famous persons). For the Face Identity Sorting task, both groups were more accurate when sorting familiar faces; however, the stroke group performed significantly worse than the healthy group when sorting unfamiliar faces. For the Face/Object Solitaire task, the control group performed better than the stroke group on the face solitaire, but there were no differences in the object solitaire condition. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that despite having a normal mean MMSE score (HC: 28.22, Stroke: 27.96), patients with lacunar stroke had difficulties recognizing famous faces and discriminating among unfamiliar faces. This may reveal an overlooked deficit in face perception, highlighting the importance of future interventions that specifically focus on face recognition skills to enhance patients’ daily social interactions and the overall effectiveness of post-stroke rehabilitation programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 778 KB  
Article
The Effects of Handedness Consistency on the Identification of Own- and Cross-Race Faces
by Raymond P. Voss, Jr., Ryan Corser, Stephen Prunier and John D. Jasper
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(8), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15080828 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1704
Abstract
Background/Objectives: People are better at recognizing the faces of racial in-group members than out-group members. This own-race bias relies on pattern recognition and memory processes, which rely on hemispheric specialization. We hypothesized that handedness, a proxy for hemispheric specialization, would moderate own-race [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: People are better at recognizing the faces of racial in-group members than out-group members. This own-race bias relies on pattern recognition and memory processes, which rely on hemispheric specialization. We hypothesized that handedness, a proxy for hemispheric specialization, would moderate own-race bias. Specifically, consistently handed individuals perform better on tasks that require the hemispheres to work independently, while inconsistently handed individuals perform better on tasks that require integration. This led to the hypothesis that inconsistently handed individuals would show less own-race bias, driven by an increase in accuracy. Methods: 281 participants completed the study in exchange for course credit. Of those, the sample was isolated to Caucasian (174) and African American individuals (41). Participants were shown two target faces (one Caucasian and one African American), given several distractor tasks, and then asked to identify the target faces during two sequential line-ups, each terminating when participants made an identification judgment. Results: Continuous handedness score and the match between participant race and target face race were entered into a binary logistic regression predicting correct/incorrect identifications. The overall model was statistically significant, Χ2 (3, N = 430) = 11.036, p = 0.012, Nagelkerke R2 = 0.038, culminating in 76% correct classifications. Analyses of the parameter estimates showed that the racial match, b = 0.53, SE = 0.23, Wald Χ2 (1) = 5.217, p = 0.022, OR = 1.703 and the interaction between handedness and the racial match, b = 0.51, SE = 0.23, Wald test = 4.813, p = 0.028, OR = 1.671 significantly contributed to the model. The model indicated that the probability of identification was similar for own- or cross-race targets amongst inconsistently handed individuals. Consistently handed individuals, by contrast, showed an increase in accuracy for the own-race target and a decrease in accuracy for cross-race targets. Conclusions: Results partially supported the hypotheses. Inconsistently handed individuals did show less own-race bias. This finding, however, seemed to be driven by differences in accuracy amongst consistently handed individuals rather than a hypothesized increase in accuracy amongst inconsistently handed individuals. Underlying hemispheric specialization, as measured by proxy with handedness, may impact the own-race bias in facial recognition. Future research is required to investigate the mechanisms, however, as the directional differences were different than hypothesized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Face Perception and How Disorders Affect Face Perception)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop