Lateralization of facial recognition in Tibetan and Han individuals: Evidence from eye movement

In this study, eye movement technology was used to explore the lateralization characteristics of Han and Tibetan individuals when they recognized faces of individuals of their own and other ethnicities. In Experiment 1, the faces were divided into two areas of interest: the left and right sides. The results revealed that left lateralization occurred when participants of both ethnicities recognized faces of individuals of their own and other nationalities. In Experiment 2, the faces were divided into six areas of interest: the left and right eyes, the left and right sides of the nose, and the left and right sides of the mouth. The results revealed that the focus of left lateralization was the nose and mouth for the faces of Han individuals, whereas that for the faces of Tibetan individuals was the mouth. The results indicate that left visual lateralization occurs when the faces of Tibetan and Han individuals are recognized and that this lateralization differs across different ethnicities.