Cattaneo, ZairaZairaCattaneoRenzi, ChiaraChiaraRenziBona, SilviaSilviaBonaMerabet, Lotfi B.Lotfi B.MerabetCarbon, Claus-ChristianClaus-ChristianCarbon0000-0002-3446-9347Vecchi, TomasoTomasoVecchi2022-05-032022-05-0320131531-5320https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/53912Human capacity to discriminate among different faces relies on distinct parallel sub-processes, either based on analysis of configural aspects of faces or on the sequential analysis of the single elements of a face. A particular type of configural processing consists in considering whether two faces differ in terms of internal spacing among their features, i.e., second-order relations processing. Findings from electrophysiological, neuroimaging and lesions' studies suggest that overall configural processes rely more on right hemisphere’s resources, whereas analysis of single features would involve more the left hemisphere. However, results are not always consistent, and there is no yet clear behavioral demonstration for a right-hemisphere specialization in second-order relations processing. Here we used divided visual field presentation to investigate the possible different contribution of the two hemispheres in faces' discrimination based on relational vs. featural processing. Our data indicate a right hemisphere specialization in relational processing of upright (but not inverted) faces, and provide evidence on the involvement of both right and left hemisphere resources in processing faces differing for inner features, suggesting that in this case both analytical and configural modes of processing are at play.engarticle10.3758/s13423-013-0484-2http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758%2Fs13423-013-0484-2