object recognition

Question 1

Kanwisher et al. (1997)

Answer 1

Fusiform face area - strong evidence that suggests visual processing modules.

Question 2

What is expertise-related activation?

Answer 2

The idea that the FFA actually actually activates based on expertise and not facial recognition.

Question 3

Who championed the idea of expertise-related activation?

Answer 3

Gauthier (2001) - Greebles study - evidence suggested FFA activation in greeble experts but not novices?

Question 4

Weaknesses to the Greeble study?

Answer 4

Potential of Greeble’s face-likeness, and not expertise, driving activation. Findings have yet to be convincingly replicated and most effects seen are small and unreliable (Xu, 2005)

Question 5

Expertise-related activation support?

Answer 5

Car and bird studies (Gauthier, 2000) found FFA activation for car and bird ‘experts’. Again, effects were small and it could be argued that bird experts and better at recognising the bird’s face, and that cars have a vague face-likeness, hence the small effect.

Question 6

Conclusions?

Answer 6

Visual processing does seem to have separate modules, but evidence only points towards it being present for biologically important stimuli. More research needs to be done on non-biological stimuli and the underlying mechanisms of visual processing.