A developmental study of hemisphere specialization for recognition of faces in normal subjects.

In a developmental study of hemisphere lateralization for recognition of faces in normal subjects three groups of subjects (mean ages: 7 years 9 months; 13 years 10 months; and 19 years 6 months) were tested. The procedure was a go-no go reaction time task in which the subject responded to faces tachistoscopically presented to the right or left visual field. A left visual field superiority was found for the two older age groups, which is interpreted as a right hemisphere dominance for recognition of faces. However, the 7 and 8 year old group did not demonstrate a significant visual field difference. These results indicate that the hemisphere specialization (lateralization) for recognition of faces involves processes which develop with increasing age through childhood and is not well-established until some time after the age of 8 and before age 13.