Sex and cognitive influence on visual hemifield superiority for face and letter recognition

Two groups of field independent individuals (one male and one female) and two groups of field dependent individuals (one male and one female) were selected as subjects in the experiment. The classification of field dependence-independence was based on predetermined RFT and EFT standards. The subjects, all right-handed, were given a face and a letter recognition task in a tachistoscopic visual hemifield paradigm; reaction time with either hand was the dependent measure. Field independent subjects of both sexes showed a clear right-field superiority for letter and a left-field superiority for face recognition. Field dependent subjects of both sexes showed a right-field superiority in both letter and face recognition, although of a smaller magnitude than the previous group. The results of the experiment do not support previous findings of no field superiority in females for face recognition; on the contrary, they provide additional evidence that measures of cognitive style significantly predict hemisperic specialization.