@article{coteEyesAreCentral2026,

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/pages/publications/105030389147?origin=resultslist},

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

issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Vision Research},

volume = {243},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

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, Eye, Face, Faces, Facial Recognition, facies, female, human, human experiment, Humans, Image analysis, information processing, Information use, male, Noise, normal human, Pattern Recognition, perception, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, procedures, Prosopagnosia, psychology, recognition, Social Perception, spatial frequency discrimination, task performance, Visual, visual discrimination, visual pattern recognition, 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{blaisConductingOnlineVisual2025a,

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/pages/publications/105004807446?origin=resultslist},

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)},

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{blaisConductingOnlineVisual2025b,

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=6f27d81d289529b733b5aa0b03634f27},

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

issn = {00426989 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Vision Research},

volume = {233},

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)},

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{blaisConductingOnlineVisual2025,

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)},

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{marschall-levesque_increasing_2018,

title = {Increasing Valid Profiles in Phallometric Assessment of Sex Offenders with Child Victims: Combining the Strengths of Audio Stimuli and Synthetic Characters},

author = {S. Marschall-Lévesque and J. -L. Rouleau and P. Renaud},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85033397289&doi=10.1007%2fs10508-017-1053-y&partnerID=40&md5=bbb82341dfebd50938aa29358f8e0e69},

doi = {10.1007/s10508-017-1053-y},

issn = {00040002},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {Archives of Sexual Behavior},

volume = {47},

number = {2},

pages = {417–428},

publisher = {Springer New York LLC},

abstract = {Penile plethysmography (PPG) is a measure of sexual interests that relies heavily on the stimuli it uses to generate valid results. Ethical considerations surrounding the use of real images in PPG have further limited the content admissible for these stimuli. To palliate this limitation, the current study aimed to combine audio and visual stimuli by incorporating computer-generated characters to create new stimuli capable of accurately classifying sex offenders with child victims, while also increasing the number of valid profiles. Three modalities (audio, visual, and audiovisual) were compared using two groups (15 sex offenders with child victims and 15 non-offenders). Both the new visual and audiovisual stimuli resulted in a 13% increase in the number of valid profiles at 2.5 mm, when compared to the standard audio stimuli. Furthermore, the new audiovisual stimuli generated a 34% increase in penile responses. All three modalities were able to discriminate between the two groups by their responses to the adult and child stimuli. Lastly, sexual interest indices for all three modalities could accurately classify participants in their appropriate groups, as demonstrated by ROC curve analysis (i.e., audio AUC = .81, 95% CI [.60, 1.00]; visual AUC = .84, 95% CI [.66, 1.00], and audiovisual AUC = .83, 95% CI [.63, 1.00]). Results suggest that computer-generated characters allow accurate discrimination of sex offenders with child victims and can be added to already validated stimuli to increase the number of valid profiles. The implications of audiovisual stimuli using computer-generated characters and their possible use in PPG evaluations are also discussed. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.},

note = {Publisher: Springer New York LLC},

keywords = {Acoustic Stimulation, Adolescent, adult, auditory stimulation, Child, clinical article, controlled study, crime victim, Crime Victims, Diagnosis, DSM-5, Feedback, female, human, Humans, male, Pedophilia, Penis, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, Plethysmography, procedures, psychology, receiver operating characteristic, Sensory, sensory feedback, sex determination, Sex Offenses, sexual crime, stimulus, victim, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{marschall-levesqueIncreasingValidProfiles2018,

title = {Increasing Valid Profiles in Phallometric Assessment of Sex Offenders with Child Victims: Combining the Strengths of Audio Stimuli and Synthetic Characters},

author = {S. Marschall-Lévesque and J. -L. Rouleau and P. Renaud},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85033397289&doi=10.1007%2fs10508-017-1053-y&partnerID=40&md5=bbb82341dfebd50938aa29358f8e0e69},

doi = {10.1007/s10508-017-1053-y},

issn = {00040002},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-01-01},

journal = {Archives of Sexual Behavior},

volume = {47},

number = {2},

pages = {417–428},

publisher = {Springer New York LLC},

abstract = {Penile plethysmography (PPG) is a measure of sexual interests that relies heavily on the stimuli it uses to generate valid results. Ethical considerations surrounding the use of real images in PPG have further limited the content admissible for these stimuli. To palliate this limitation, the current study aimed to combine audio and visual stimuli by incorporating computer-generated characters to create new stimuli capable of accurately classifying sex offenders with child victims, while also increasing the number of valid profiles. Three modalities (audio, visual, and audiovisual) were compared using two groups (15 sex offenders with child victims and 15 non-offenders). Both the new visual and audiovisual stimuli resulted in a 13% increase in the number of valid profiles at 2.5 mm, when compared to the standard audio stimuli. Furthermore, the new audiovisual stimuli generated a 34% increase in penile responses. All three modalities were able to discriminate between the two groups by their responses to the adult and child stimuli. Lastly, sexual interest indices for all three modalities could accurately classify participants in their appropriate groups, as demonstrated by ROC curve analysis (i.e., audio AUC = .81, 95% CI [.60, 1.00]; visual AUC = .84, 95% CI [.66, 1.00], and audiovisual AUC = .83, 95% CI [.63, 1.00]). Results suggest that computer-generated characters allow accurate discrimination of sex offenders with child victims and can be added to already validated stimuli to increase the number of valid profiles. The implications of audiovisual stimuli using computer-generated characters and their possible use in PPG evaluations are also discussed. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.},

keywords = {Acoustic Stimulation, Adolescent, adult, auditory stimulation, Child, clinical article, controlled study, crime victim, Crime Victims, Diagnosis, DSM-5, Feedback, female, human, Humans, male, Pedophilia, Penis, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, Plethysmography, procedures, psychology, receiver operating characteristic, Sensory, sensory feedback, sex determination, Sex Offenses, sexual crime, stimulus, victim, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{blais_eye_2017,

title = {Eye fixation patterns for categorizing static and dynamic facial Expressions},

author = {C. Blais and D. Fiset and C. Roy and C. S. Régimbald and F. Gosselin},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016754655&doi=10.1037%2femo0000283&partnerID=40&md5=baecd8d6500d1447d48a399497611ccd},

doi = {10.1037/emo0000283},

issn = {15283542 (ISSN)},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Emotion},

volume = {17},

number = {7},

pages = {1107–1119},

publisher = {American Psychological Association Inc.},

abstract = {Facial expressions of emotion are dynamic in nature, but most studies on the visual strategies underlying the recognition of facial emotions have used static stimuli. The present study directly compared the visual strategies underlying the recognition of static and dynamic facial expressions using eye tracking and the Bubbles technique. The results revealed different eye fixation patterns with the 2 kinds of stimuli, with fewer fixations on the eye and mouth area during the recognition of dynamic than static expressions. However, these differences in eye fixations were not accompanied by any systematic differences in the facial information that was actually processed to recognize the expressions. © 2017 American Psychological Association.},

note = {Publisher: American Psychological Association Inc.},

keywords = {adult, anatomy and histology, Bubbles, Dynamic, emotion, Emotions, Eye, eye fixation, Eye movements, eye tracking, Facial Expression, facial expressions, female, Fixation, human, Humans, male, Mouth, Ocular, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, PsycINFO, stimulus, Visual strategies, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{leveille_sex-related_2017,

title = {Sex-Related Differences in Emotion Recognition in Multi-concussed Athletes},

author = {E. Léveillé and S. Guay and C. Blais and P. Scherzer and L. De Beaumont},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85006263332&doi=10.1017%2fS1355617716001004&partnerID=40&md5=6bc93610c2ed3afe6f83ee371bb7caa4},

doi = {10.1017/S1355617716001004},

issn = {13556177},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society},

volume = {23},

number = {1},

pages = {65–77},

publisher = {Cambridge University Press},

abstract = {Objectives: Concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain. Although the cumulative and long-term effects of multiple concussions are now well documented on cognitive and motor function, little is known about their effects on emotion recognition. Recent studies have suggested that concussion can result in emotional sequelae, particularly in females and multi-concussed athletes. The objective of this study was to investigate sex-related differences in emotion recognition in asymptomatic male and female multi-concussed athletes. Methods: We tested 28 control athletes (15 males) and 22 multi-concussed athletes (10 males) more than a year since the last concussion. Participants completed the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, a neuropsychological test battery and a morphed emotion recognition task. Pictures of a male face expressing basic emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise) morphed with another emotion were randomly presented. After each face presentation, participants were asked to indicate the emotion expressed by the face. Results: Results revealed significant sex by group interactions in accuracy and intensity threshold for negative emotions, together with significant main effects of emotion and group. Conclusions: Male concussed athletes were significantly impaired in recognizing negative emotions and needed more emotional intensity to correctly identify these emotions, compared to same-sex controls. In contrast, female concussed athletes performed similarly to same-sex controls. These findings suggest that sex significantly modulates concussion effects on emotional facial expression recognition. © 2016 The International Neuropsychological Society.},

note = {Publisher: Cambridge University Press},

keywords = {adult, analysis of variance, Athletic Injuries, complication, Facial Expression, female, human, Humans, male, mood disorder, Mood Disorders, neuropsychological test, Neuropsychological Tests, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, Post-Concussion Syndrome, postconcussion syndrome, recognition, Recognition (Psychology), Sex Characteristics, sexual characteristics, sport injury, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{daudelin-peltier_effect_2017,

title = {The effect of acute social stress on the recognition of facial expression of emotions /631/378/2649 /631/378/1457 article},

author = {C. Daudelin-Peltier and H. Forget and C. Blais and A. Deschênes and D. Fiset},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018189261&doi=10.1038%2fs41598-017-01053-3&partnerID=40&md5=4405225de4b80852d5d98a2fd2171812},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-01053-3},

issn = {20452322},

year  = {2017},

date = {2017-01-01},

journal = {Scientific Reports},

volume = {7},

number = {1},

publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},

abstract = {This study investigates the effect of acute social stress on the recognition of facial expression of emotions in healthy young men. Participants underwent both a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor (TSST-G) and a control condition. Then, they performed a homemade version of the facial expressions megamix. All six basic emotions were included in the task. First, our results show a systematic increase in the intensity threshold for disgust following stress, meaning that the participants' performance with this emotion was impaired. We suggest that this may reflect an adaptive coping mechanism where participants attempt to decrease their anxiety and protect themselves from a socio-evaluative threat. Second, our results show a systematic decrease in the intensity threshold for surprise, therefore positively affecting the participants' performance with that emotion. We suggest that the enhanced perception of surprise following the induction of social stress may be interpreted as an evolutionary adaptation, wherein being in a stressful environment increases the benefits of monitoring signals indicating the presence of a novel or threatening event. An alternative explanation may derive from the opposite nature of the facial expressions of disgust and surprise; the decreased recognition of disgust could therefore have fostered the propensity to perceive surprise. © 2017 The Author(s).},

note = {Publisher: Nature Publishing Group},

keywords = {adult, Anxiety, clinical study, controlled study, disgust, evolutionary adaptation, Facial Expression, Facial Recognition, human, Humans, Hydrocortisone, male, mental stress, metabolism, monitoring, pathophysiology, Pattern Recognition, Photic Stimulation, photostimulation, physiology, Psychological, reaction time, social stress, Stress, Visual, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}