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    Similar exemplar pooling processes underlie the learning of facial identity and handwriting style: evidence from typical observers and individuals with Autism

    Ipser, A. and Ring, M. and Murphy, J. and Gaigg, S. and Cook, Richard (2016) Similar exemplar pooling processes underlie the learning of facial identity and handwriting style: evidence from typical observers and individuals with Autism. Neuropsychologia 85 , pp. 169-176. ISSN 00283932.

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    Abstract

    Considerable research has addressed whether the cognitive and neural representations recruited by faces are similar to those engaged by other types of visual stimuli. For example, research has examined the extent to which objects of expertise recruit holistic representation and engage the fusiform face area. Little is known, however, about the domain-specificity of the exemplar pooling processes thought to underlie the acquisition of familiarity with particular facial identities. In the present study we sought to compare observers' ability to learn facial identities and handwriting styles from exposure to multiple exemplars. Crucially, while handwritten words and faces differ considerably in their topographic form, both learning tasks share a common exemplar pooling component. In our first experiment, we find that typical observers' ability to learn facial identities and handwriting styles from exposure to multiple exemplars correlates closely. In our second experiment, we show that observers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are impaired at both learning tasks. Our findings suggest that similar exemplar pooling processes are recruited when learning facial identities and handwriting styles. Models of exemplar pooling originally developed to explain face learning, may therefore offer valuable insights into exemplar pooling across a range of domains, extending beyond faces. Aberrant exemplar pooling, possibly resulting from structural differences in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, may underlie difficulties recognising familiar faces often experienced by individuals with ASD, and leave observers overly reliant on local details present in particular exemplars.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Keyword(s) / Subject(s): Autism Spectrum Disorder, Face learning, Handwriting, Exemplar variance, Averaging
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
    Depositing User: Richard Cook
    Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2018 07:43
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:39
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/21296

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