Attention and recognition : the role of overt and covert attention in explicit and subliminal face processing

Abstract

This thesis investigated the role of attention in conscious and unconscious face recognition by examining the extent to which faces are processed when: i) presented in the visual periphery, and ii) presented very briefly and masked. It was found that conscious face recognition in peripheral vision is impaired but improves if the face has been pre-exposed in central vision. In contrast, subliminal face processing occurs regardless of whether the face is attended and whether it has been pre-exposed. These results support the view that face recognition does not rely on consciousness or attention.

Date of Award	2010
Original language	English