Perception of global facial geometry is modulated through experience

Ramon, M. (2015) Perception of global facial geometry is modulated through experience. PeerJ, 3, e850. (doi: 10.7717/peerj.850) (PMID:25825678) (PMCID:PMC4375970)

Abstract

Identification of personally familiar faces is highly efficient across various viewing conditions. While the presence of robust facial representations stored in memory is considered to aid this process, the mechanisms underlying invariant identification remain unclear. Two experiments tested the hypothesis that facial representations stored in memory are associated with differential perceptual processing of the overall facial geometry. Subjects who were personally familiar or unfamiliar with the identities presented discriminated between stimuli whose overall facial geometry had been manipulated to maintain or alter the original facial configuration (see Barton, Zhao & Keenan, 2003). The results demonstrate that familiarity gives rise to more efficient processing of global facial geometry, and are interpreted in terms of increased holistic processing of facial information that is maintained across viewing distances.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ramon, Ms Meike
• Authors: Ramon, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: PeerJ
• Publisher: PeerJ
• ISSN: 2167-8359
• ISSN (Online): 2167-8359
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 The Author
• First Published: First published in PeerJ 3:e850
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License