Processing the facial image: a brief history

The study of the neural basis of face perception is a major research interest today. This review traces its roots in monkey neuropsychology and neurophysiology beginning with the Klüver-Bucy syndrome and its fractionation and then continuing with lesion and single neuron recording studies of inferior temporal cortex. The context and consequence of the discovery of inferior temporal neurons selective for faces is described and current lines of research on inferior temporal cortex and face processing in both monkeys and humans are outlined.