Selective visual streaming in face recognition: evidence from developmental prosopagnosia

COMPUTATIONAL considerations suggest that efficient face identification req uires the categorization and exclusive streaming of previously encoded face visual primitives into a dedicated face recognition system. Unique evidenc e supporting this claim is provided by a rare case of developmental pure pr osopagnosia with otherwise normal visual and cognitive functions. Despite h is normal visual memory and ability to describe faces, he is extremely impa ired in face recognition. An early event related brain potential (N170) tha t is normally elicited exclusively by human faces, showed no specificity in this person. MRI revealed a smaller then normal right temporal lobe. These data emphasize the indispensability of the early streaming process for fac e recognition. NeuroReport 10:823-827 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkin s.