Face Recognition is Shaped by the Use of Sign Language

International audiencePrevious research has suggested that early deaf signers differ in face processing. Which aspects of face processing arechanged and the role that sign language may have played in that change are however unclear. Here, we compared facecategorization (human/non-human) and human face recognition performance in early profoundly deaf signers, hearingsigners, and hearing non-signers. In the face categorization task, the three groups performed similarly in term of bothresponse time and accuracy. However, in the face recognition task, signers (both deaf and hearing) were slower than hearingnon-signers to accurately recognize faces, but had a higher accuracy rate. We conclude that sign language experience, but notdeafness, drives a speed–accuracy trade-off in face recognition (but not face categorization). This suggests strategicdifferences in the processing of facial identity for individuals who use a sign language, regardless of their hearing status