Abstract

This article reviews recent research findings investigating developmental prosopagnosia. Studies involving DP address the cognitive and neural basis of face processing. The relatively rich cognitive, neural, and developmental theories of face recognition provide a framework that should allow for rapid progress. Cognitive studies of DP provide support for the existence of face-specific processes, and dissociations between different types of face processing in DPs are consistent with leading models of face processing that propose separable mechanisms for various aspects of face processing. Research on the neural basis of DP has found abnormalities in a number of occipital and temporal regions that show face-selective responses in people with normal face processing, and so provide additional evidence that the integrity of these areas is necessary for face recognition. Despite progress made in recent years, much work remains to be done and connections between cognitive, neural, developmental, and genetic levels of explanation remain to be worked out.