Featural vs. configurational information in faces: a conceptual and empirical analysis.

doi:10.1348/000712602162427

Paper

Featural vs. configurational information in faces: a conceptual and empirical analysis.

Published Feb 1, 2002 · S. Rakover

British journal of psychology

Q1 SJR score

132

Citations

4

Influential Citations

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Abstract

The perception and memory of faces have been accounted for by the processing of two kinds of facial information: featural and configurational. The starting point of this article is the definition and accepted usage of these two concepts of facial information. I discuss these definitions and their various ramifications from three aspects: methodological, theoretical and empirical. In the section on methodology, I review several of the basic manipulations for changing facial information. In the theoretical section, I consider four fundamental hypotheses associated with these two kinds of facial information: the featural, configurational, holistic and norm hypotheses (the norm-based hypothesis and the 'hierarchy of schemas' hypothesis). In the section on empirical evidence, I survey relevant studies on the topic and consider these hypotheses through a description of various empirical phenomena that carry clear implications for the subject of the study. In conclusion, I propose two alternative directions for future research: first, a 'task-information' approach, which involves specifying what information is used for different tasks; and secondly, taking a different approach to the definition of the visual features for face processing, for example by using principal components analysis (PCA).

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Key takeawayThis paper proposes a 'task-information' approach and a different approach to visual features definition for face processing, suggesting two alternative research directions.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Paper

Featural vs. configurational information in faces: a conceptual and empirical analysis.

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References

Citations

Holistic Processing of Recognition Memory for Face Identity: Evidence from a Face Morphing Paradigm

Holistic face processing contributes to accurate face identification in recognition memory, even under minimal learning situations.

Similarity Between Upright and Inverted Faces in a Yes/No Procedure: The Face Recognition Invariance

Face recognition invariance occurs when visual similarity between an inverted face and an upright face persists, despite a 180° transformation in face orientation.

Comparing Inverted Faces to Upright Faces Using Similarity or Mental Rotation

The cognitive system relies more on visual similarity than mental rotation to recognize inverted faces, based on symmetric or salient components of the face.

The Influence of Each Facial Feature on How We Perceive and Interpret Human Faces

The eyes have the greatest effect on our perception of facial traits, but other features are more relevant for specific judgments, such as happiness and femininity, or dominance.

Featural and configural processing of faces and houses in matched dyslexic and typical readers

Dyslexic readers struggle to recognize objects (houses) and may rely on a single process for object recognition, affecting reading difficulties.

Understanding the role of configural processing in face emotion recognition in Parkinson's disease.

People with Parkinson's disease have difficulty recognizing anger, disgust, and fearful expressions in upright faces, suggesting a configural processing deficit.