Face Perception (BRUCE, YOUNG)

"This is the best book available on face perception. It is interesting for students at advanced levels, as well as those interested in how face perception actually works." - Frans A. J. Verstraten, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

"This is a truly wonderful and authoritative book, and one that will definitely attract great scientific and public attention. A 'must read'- I genuinely enjoyed reading the text and almost regretted it when I came to the end!" - Stefan R. Schweinberger, DFG Research Unit, Person Perception, Friedrich-Schiller University, Germany.

"This comprehensive and authoritative text demonstrates the authors' huge breadth of knowledge of this subject. All of the main issues in the face perception area are covered in a comprehensive and clear manner. It is a 'must have' for psychologists and also for those studying computer science, neuroscience and other social sciences." - Karen Lander, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.

Human faces are unique biological structures that convey a complex variety of important social messages. Even strangers can tell things from our faces - our feelings, our focus of attention, our age, sex and ethnic group, something of what we are saying and whether they find us attractive. In recent years there has been genuine progress in understanding how our brains derive all these different messages from faces and what can happen when one or more of the structures involved is damaged.

Face Perception provides an up-to-date, integrative summary by two authors who have helped develop and shape the field over the past 30 years. It answers a range of fascinating questions such as: what visual information does our brain exploit when we look at faces? Do prejudicial attitudes affect how we see faces? How do people with neurodevelopmental disorders see faces? The material is presented in a way that is accessible to students, and as a whole the book offers a compelling synthesis of behavioural, neuropsychological and cognitive neuroscience approaches to develop a distinctive point of view of the area. The book concludes by reviewing what is known about the development of face processing and re-examines the question of what makes faces 'special'.

Written in a clear and accessible style, this book is invaluable reading for all students and researchers interested in studying face perception and social cognition.

Vicki Bruce has taught and researched aspects of visual perception, particularly face perception, since completing her PhD in 1977. She has held chairs in psychology at the Universities of Nottingham, Stirling, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Andy Young has more than 35 years of experience researching different aspects of face perception. He has held posts at the Universities of Aberdeen, Lancaster, Durham and York, and the Medical Research Council.