In Dr S's face recognition case, which aspect was reported as normal?

• A. Structural encoding and initial registration of face recognition units
• B. Maintenance of face recognition units over time
• C. Activation of person identity information
• D. General intelligence

Answer: (A)

In face recognition models, processing happens in stages from perceptual analysis to linking a seen face with a stored representation and then to pulling up identity information. The aspect reported as normal is the structural encoding and initial registration of face recognition units, meaning the basic perceptual analysis of a face and its quick matching to a stored, familiar representation worked as expected. This indicates the early, perceptual stage of face processing was intact. The other options reflect later stages—maintaining those stored representations over time or activating the actual person identity information—so those would be areas where impairment could occur if present. General intelligence is a broad cognitive factor and isn’t specific to the face recognition sequence, so it being normal wouldn’t specifically address the face-processing pathway in question.