@article{cote_eyes_2026,

title = {The eyes are central to face detection: revisiting the foundations of face processing},

author = {L. Côté and J. Lamontagne and A. Bellerose and C. Blais and D. Fiset},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105030389147&doi=10.1016%2Fj.visres.2026.108785&partnerID=40&md5=752aa5d9923ac60539e36118ad41e1e6},

doi = {10.1016/j.visres.2026.108785},

issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Vision Research},

volume = {243},

abstract = {Face detection feels effortless, yet it requires finely tuned computations to extract socially meaningful signals from the visual stream. Here, we used the Bubbles method to isolate the facial features and spatial frequency information that support face categorization. Across three experiments varying in task demands and visual context, the eye region consistently emerged as the most diagnostic source of information, particularly in high spatial frequencies. This finding held whether participants distinguished faces from noise, from non-face objects, or from real-world categories—suggesting that the eyes serve as an anchor point for categorization across contexts. Strikingly, this diagnostic profile mirrors that found in face identification tasks, implying that detection and recognition may rely on shared perceptual mechanisms rather than sequential, independent processes. This overlap sheds light on longstanding ambiguities in the prosopagnosia literature, indicating that detection impairments found in patients may stem from a broader failure to extract critical eye information. More broadly, our results invite a rethinking of the early stages of face processing, suggesting that detection already involves selective use of diagnostic facial features that supports recognition, emotional decoding, and social perception. © 2026 The Author(s).},

keywords = {adult, article, Black person, Bubbles, Categorization, Caucasian, Detection, emotion assessment, Faces, Facial Recognition, facies, female, human, human experiment, Image analysis, information processing, Information use, male, Noise, normal human, perception, Prosopagnosia, spatial frequency discrimination, task performance, visual discrimination, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gingras_cultural_2026,

title = {Cultural differences in spatial frequency tunings to faces do not generalize to visual scenes and object stimuli},

author = {F. Gingras and D. Fiset and M. -P. Plouffe-Demers and A. Estéphan and M. N’Guiamba and D. Sun and Y. Zhang and C. Blais},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105025378146&doi=10.3758%2Fs13423-025-02832-0&partnerID=40&md5=43840b8cfa4c2df54e647f03a452f8e5},

doi = {10.3758/s13423-025-02832-0},

issn = {10699384 (ISSN)},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Psychonomic Bulletin and Review},

volume = {33},

number = {1},

abstract = {Previous research has identified cultural differences in visual perception, where East Asians focus more on global object structure and display a larger breadth of attention compared with Westerners. East Asians rely on lower spatial frequencies (SFs) compared to Westerners for face recognition, which may be linked to this. Investigating whether such differences extend to other high-level stimulus categories would clarify if SF tuning differences reflect more general or face specific cognitive processes. The present study compared the SF tunings of Canadians and Chinese during object (Exp. 1; N = 50) and scene (Exp. 3; N = 47) categorization. In both experiments, results did not indicate a significant difference between groups. In Experiment 3 (N = 128), we conducted an online replication of Experiment 1 while measuring the SF tunings of the same participants during face perception. Again, no significant difference between the groups was found during object categorization, but the finding that East Asians rely on lower SF than Westerners was replicated. Together, these results suggest that unique mechanisms may underlie the cultural differences in face processing, though alternative explanations, such as the feature consistency of faces, could also account for these findings. © The Psychonomic Society, Inc. 2025.},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Asian, Asian People, Canada, Caucasian, China, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Cross-cultural psychology, cultural factor, Depth Perception, Face processing, Facial Recognition, female, human, Humans, male, Object processing, Pattern Recognition, physiology, Scene processing, Space Perception, Spatial frequencies, Visual, visual pattern recognition, Visual Perception, White People, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bourbeau_role_2025,

title = {The Role of Body Image Perception on a Continuum from Dysfunctional to Healthy Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Among People Seeking Treatment},

author = {F. Bourbeau and S. Bouchard and G. Corno and J. Monthuy-Blanc},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85216120423&doi=10.3390%2Fjcm14020597&partnerID=40&md5=be414bf29fdc6264d47a9c696954c80f},

doi = {10.3390/jcm14020597},

issn = {20770383 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {14},

number = {2},

abstract = {Background: Body image disturbance has been associated with various health conditions and has the potential to trigger the development of unhealthy behaviors, including dysfunctional attitudes and eating behaviors, which may evolve into eating disorders. This study explores the relationship between body image variables—such as global self-worth, physical self-worth, and physical attractiveness—and the continuum of eating attitudes and behaviors. Methods: A canonical correlation analysis was performed to assess the multivariate relationship between attitudinal and perceptual variables and the continuum of eating behaviors, with a total of 113 cases analyzed. Results: The findings indicate that intuitive eating and a positive body image (including global self-worth and physical attractiveness) are most strongly associated with the functional end of the continuum, while disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction are linked to the dysfunctional end. Conclusions: These results suggest that interventions targeting the emotional and attitudinal dimensions of body dissatisfaction, whether delivered in vivo or via virtual reality (e.g., weight exposure), may facilitate a shift toward healthier, more functional eating behaviors along the continuum. © 2025 by the authors.},

note = {Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, aged, article, Attitude, behavior, body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder, body image, body image perception, body mass, correlation analysis, eating and attitudes and behaviors, eating disorder, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, eating disorder inventory, eating habit, feeding behavior, female, healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, help seeking behavior, human, intuitive eating, major clinical study, male, Middle Aged, perception, physical attractiveness, psychological rating scale, retrospective study, Self Concept, self esteem, very elderly, virtual reality, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{charbonneau_facial_2025,

title = {Facial expression categorization predominantly relies on mid-spatial frequencies},

author = {I. Charbonneau and J. Duncan and C. Blais and J. Guérette and M. -P. Plouffe-Demers and F. Smith and D. Fiset},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105003427898&doi=10.1016%2Fj.visres.2025.108611&partnerID=40&md5=508d315d8092a9142c2d82f1b774cfdb},

doi = {10.1016/j.visres.2025.108611},

issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Vision Research},

volume = {231},

abstract = {Facial expressions are crucial in human communication. Recent decades have seen growing interest in understanding the role of spatial frequencies (SFs) in emotion perception in others. While some studies have suggested a preferential treatment of low versus high SFs, the optimal SFs for recognizing basic facial expressions remain elusive. This study, conducted on Western participants, addresses this gap using two complementary methods: a data-driven method (Exp. 1) without arbitrary SF cut-offs, and a more naturalistic method (Exp. 2) simulating variations in viewing distance. Results generally showed a preponderant role of low over high SFs, but particularly stress that facial expression categorization mostly relies on mid-range SF content (i.e. ∼6–13 cycles per face), often overlooked in previous studies. Optimal performance was observed at short to medium viewing distances (1.2–2.4 m), declining sharply with increased distance, precisely when mid-range SFs were no longer available. Additionally, our data suggest variations in SF tuning profiles across basic facial expressions and nuanced contributions from low and mid SFs in facial expression processing. Most importantly, it suggests that any method that removes mid-SF content has the downfall of offering an incomplete account of SFs diagnosticity for facial expression recognition. © 2025 The Authors},

note = {Publisher: Elsevier Ltd},

keywords = {adult, article, Bubbles, Classification, controlled study, emotion, Emotions, Facial Expression, facial expressions, Facial Recognition, female, human, Humans, male, physiology, Psychophysics, simulation, Spatial frequencies, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{antonio_posttraumatic_2025,

title = {Posttraumatic stress disorder and Physiological Response in First Responders During Virtual Reality Exposure},

author = {H. António and C. Barros and M. Vieira de Castro and J. Oliveira and P. Gamito and S. Bouchard and R. J. Pinto},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023876769&doi=10.1177%2F21522715251394917&partnerID=40&md5=c3c071b02ee24bd37789dfd06a936fbd},

doi = {10.1177/21522715251394917},

issn = {21522715 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking},

abstract = {First responders (FRs) are routinely exposed to traumatic events, increasing risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study compared heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance level (SCL) between FRs with and without probable PTSD at baseline and during a virtual reality (VR) task. Eighty-four FRs completed questionnaires and physiological assessments. Participants with probable PTSD showed significantly lower baseline HRV, indicating reduced parasympathetic modulation. No group differences emerged for HRV during VR or for SCL at either point. The results confirm reduced HRV at rest in PTSD, but further work is needed to clarify why this difference was not observed during the task and why SCL showed no group effects. To advance understanding of these results, future studies should include larger samples, longer baselines, recovery phases, and clinical interviews. © 2025 Mary Ann Liebert, (NY) LLC.},

keywords = {adult, electrodermal response, Emergency Responders, female, first responders, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, human, Humans, male, Middle Aged, pathophysiology, physiological response, physiology, Post-Traumatic, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychology, questionnaire, rescue personnel, skin conductance, Stress Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{berube_childhood_2025,

title = {Childhood maltreatment influences parental mimicry of children's emotional facial expressions},

author = {A. Bérubé and R. Pétrin and M. Boudreault and G. Marcotte-Beaumier and C. Blais},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105020986193&doi=10.1016%2Fj.chiabu.2025.107787&partnerID=40&md5=18593b82f701fc76ad054419d48dfc69},

doi = {10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107787},

issn = {01452134 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Child Abuse and Neglect},

volume = {170},

abstract = {Background: Childhood maltreatment can disrupt socio-emotional functioning, potentially influencing how parents respond to children's emotional facial expressions. Mimicry, an automatic reaction to others' facial expressions, is a critical mechanism for social bonding and affiliation in parent-child relationships. However, the effects of childhood maltreatment on parental mimicry remain underexplored. Objective: This study examined the relationship between different forms of childhood maltreatment and parents' mimicry of children's emotional facial expressions. Participants and setting: Fifty-seven parents participated in an emotion recognition task conducted either at a local community organization or at the university laboratory. Methods: Parents' facial reactions were recorded and analyzed using FaceReader software to detect mimicry. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) assessed parental history of maltreatment. A path analysis model was conducted to evaluate the associations between forms of childhood maltreatment and parental mimicry. Results: A history of physical abuse predicted increased expressions of anger, while physical neglect was linked to reduced anger but heightened disgust. Emotional and sexual abuse were associated with diminished mimicry of sadness, whereas emotional neglect predicted enhanced sadness mimicry. Conclusions: Findings suggest that childhood maltreatment alters parents' facial reactions to children's emotional facial expressions, potentially impacting parental sensitivity. © 2025},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, anger, article, Child, Child Abuse, child abuse survivor, child parent relation, childhood maltreatment, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, controlled study, Diagnosis, disgust, emotion, Emotional facial expressions, emotional neglect, Emotions, Facial Expression, female, human, Humans, major clinical study, male, Mimicry, neglect, parent, Parent-Child Relations, Parenting, Parents, path analysis, physical abuse, psychological functioning, psychology, questionnaire, sadness, sexual abuse, social bonding, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{blais_conducting_2025,

title = {Conducting online visual psychophysics experiments: A replication assessment of two face processing studies},

author = {C. Blais and D. Fiset and L. Côté and V. Ledrou-Paquet and I. Charbonneau},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105004807446&doi=10.1016%2fj.visres.2025.108617&partnerID=40&md5=771b056e57c4d7a34ff7c56ce39a4bd2},

doi = {10.1016/j.visres.2025.108617},

issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Vision Research},

volume = {233},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {In vision sciences, researchers rigorously control the testing environment and the physical properties of stimuli, making it challenging to conduct visual perception experiments online. However, online research offers key advantages, including access to larger and more diverse participant samples, helping to address the problem of underpowered studies and to enhance the generalizability of results. In face recognition research, increasing diversity is essential, especially considering evidence that cultural and geographical factors influence basic visual face processing. The present study tested a new online platform, Pack & Go from VPixx Technologies, that supports experiments written in MATLAB and Python. Two face recognition experiments based on a data-driven psychophysical method involving real-time stimulus manipulation and relying on functions from the Psychtoolbox were tested. In Experiment 1, the visual information used for face recognition was compared across four conditions that gradually reduced experimental control over the testing environment and stimulus properties. In Experiment 2, the association between face recognition abilities and information utilization was measured online and compared to lab-based results. In both experiments, results obtained in the lab and online were highly similar, demonstrating the potential of online research for vision science. © 2025 The Author(s)},

note = {Publisher: Elsevier Ltd},

keywords = {adult, article, cultural factor, experiment, Facial Recognition, female, geography, human, human experiment, Humans, information processing, laboratory, male, normal human, online system, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, procedures, psychology, Psychophysics, recognition, stimulus response, vision, visual stimulation, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{audette_part-based_2025,

title = {Part-based processing, but not holistic processing, predicts individual differences in face recognition abilities},

author = {P. -L. Audette and L. Côté and C. Blais and J. Duncan and F. Gingras and D. Fiset},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85213575434&doi=10.1016%2fj.cognition.2024.106057&partnerID=40&md5=135d2ba1bdf18648b57db0d3a93d0628},

doi = {10.1016/j.cognition.2024.106057},

issn = {00100277 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Cognition},

volume = {256},

publisher = {Elsevier B.V.},

abstract = {This study aimed to assess the roles of part-based and holistic processing for face processing ability (FPA). A psychophysical paradigm in which the efficiency at recognizing isolated or combined facial parts was used (N = 64), and holistic processing was defined as the perceptual integration from multiple parts. FPA and object processing ability were measured using a battery of tasks. A multiple linear regression including three predictors, namely perceptual integration, part-based efficiency, and object processing, explained 40 % of the variance in FPA. Most importantly, our results reveal a strong predictive relationship between part-based efficiency and FPA, a small predictive relationship between object processing ability and FPA, and no predictive relationship between perceptual integration and FPA. This result was obtained despite considerable variance in perceptual integration skills–with some participants exhibiting a highly efficient integration. These results indicate that part-based processing plays a pivotal role in FPA, whereas holistic processing does not. © 2024 The Authors},

note = {Publisher: Elsevier B.V.},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, article, face perception, face recognition, Facial Recognition, female, human, human experiment, Humans, Individual differences, Individuality, Integration efficiency, male, multiple linear regression analysis, physiology, psychology, Psychophysics, recognition, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{corno_development_2024,

title = {Development of a visual-perceptual method to assess body image: A cross-cultural validation in Canadian and Spanish women},

author = {G. Corno and A. Paquette and D. Burychka and M. Miragall and M. -C. Rivard and R. M. Baños and S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85189089793&doi=10.1002%2ferv.3086&partnerID=40&md5=99c221e60e3d5caad167cec6fd25dddd},

doi = {10.1002/erv.3086},

issn = {10724133 (ISSN)},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

journal = {European Eating Disorders Review},

publisher = {John Wiley and Sons Ltd},

abstract = {The objectives of this study were (a) to explore the preliminary cross-cultural validity of a visual-perceptual method to assess body image; (b) to examine potential differences and similarities in body image phenomena between women from two Western countries (i.e., Canada and Spain). 201 self-identified women participated in this cross-sectional study. Ideal, normal, and self-perceived body sizes were assessed using a visual-perceptual method, whereas body dissatisfaction was measured using both a visual-perceptual method and a questionnaire. Visual-perceptual body dissatisfaction was significantly correlated with questionnaire body dissatisfaction, suggesting a preliminary convergent validity between the two assessment methods. Women in both countries were dissatisfied with their bodies. Compared to their self-perceived body, all women chose a significantly thinner visual representation of their “normal” and ideal body. These results may suggest a shift towards the “thin” body as not only ideal, but also normative. This study provides the first evidence for the cross-cultural validity of a visual-perceptual body image assessment tool. The results of the current study confirm the presence of “normative discontent”, and suggest more cross-country similarities than differences among women from these two Western societies. © 2024 Eating Disorders Association and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.},

note = {Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd},

keywords = {Adolescent, adult, analytic method, article, assessment, body dissatisfaction, body image, body image dissatisfaction, Body Size, Canada, Canadian, controlled study, convergent validity, correlation analysis, cross validation, cross-country, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Cross-Sectional Studies, cross-sectional study, cultural anthropology, cultural factor, exploratory research, female, human, Humans, ideal body size, intermethod comparison, Middle Aged, normal body size, psychology, questionnaire, reproducibility, Reproducibility of Results, Self Concept, Spain, Spaniard, Surveys and Questionnaires, thin ideal, underweight, vision, Visual Perception, visual-perceptual method, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{le_du_new_2023,

title = {A New Option for Pain Prevention Using a Therapeutic Virtual Reality Solution for Bone Marrow Biopsy (REVEH Trial): Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter, Phase 3 Study},

author = {K. Le Du and A. -L. Septans and F. Maloisel and H. Vanquaethem and A. Schmitt and M. Le Goff and A. Clavert and M. Zinger and H. Bourgeois and O. Dupuis and F. Denis and S. Bouchard},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85148250546&doi=10.2196%2f38619&partnerID=40&md5=e27bfbd3d4c42f8850daf70bdf60b384},

doi = {10.2196/38619},

issn = {14388871 (ISSN)},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Medical Internet Research},

volume = {25},

publisher = {JMIR Publications Inc.},

abstract = {Background: Evidence regarding the analgesic effect of distraction through immersion in virtual reality (VR) for care-induced pain has been documented in several phase 2 trials, but comparison with standard treatments in large, randomized studies is needed. Objective: In this open-label, multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of a novel VR therapy solution for distraction in the context of bone marrow biopsy. Methods: Bliss is a VR software with 4 imaginary interactive environments in 3 dimensions with binaural sound (head-mounted display). Efficacy regarding pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS; score from 0 to 10) immediately after the biopsy. Secondary end points were anxiety and tolerance. Modified intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Results: Overall, 126 patients with previously documented untreated or suspected malignant hemopathy between September 6, 2018, and May 18, 2020, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive pain prevention with a mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen (MEOPA; n=63) or VR (n=63) before and during the bone marrow biopsy. We excluded 8 patients from the final analysis (3 in the MEOPA group and 5 in the VR group). All patients received local anesthesia (lidocaine) before biopsy. Follow-up was limited to 1 month after the biopsy. Participants' median age was 65.5 (range 18-87) years, and 54.2% (64/118) of patients were male. The average pain intensity was 3.5 (SD 2.6, 95% CI -1.6 to 8.6) for the MEOPA group and 3.0 (SD 2.4, 95% CI -1.7 to 7.7) for the VR group, without any significant differences in age, sex, center, and hemopathy (P=.26). Concerning anxiety, 67.5% (79/117; fear of pain questionnaire) of the patients were afraid before the biopsy, and anxiety scores were moderate to very high in 26.3% (30/114; revised Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire) of the patients before the biopsy and 9.0% (10/114) after the biopsy for all patients, without a significant difference between the 2 groups (P=.83). Immersion in VR was well tolerated by the majority (54/57, 95%) of patients in the VR group. Conclusions: The intensity of pain did not significantly differ between both arms. VR was well tolerated, and the satisfaction of patients, nurses, and physicians was very high. VR could be an alternative treatment in case of contraindication or intolerance to MEOPA. © 2023 Journal of Medical Internet Research. All rights reserved.},

note = {Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.},

keywords = {80 and over, Adolescent, adult, aged, alprazolam, Anxiety, article, Biopsy, blood pressure measurement, Bone Marrow, bone marrow biopsy, clinical trial, controlled study, demographics, digital health, digital therapeutics, Distraction, Effectiveness, efficacy, eHealth, female, follow up, head-mounted display, hematologic disease, human, human tissue, Humans, hypertension, imagery, imaginary, imagination, Immersive environment, Intention to Treat Analysis, interactive environment, leukemia, lidocaine, local anesthesia, lymphoma, major clinical study, male, medical procedure, Meopa, Middle Aged, monoclonal immunoglobulinemia, multicenter study, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorder, myeloproliferative neoplasm, nitrous oxide plus oxygen, open study, Pain, pain intensity, pain measurement, paracetamol, phase 3 clinical trial, prospective study, questionnaire, randomized controlled trial, RCT, relaxation training, safety, satisfaction, solid malignant neoplasm, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, very elderly, virtual reality, visual analog scale, VR, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}