Face-Information Sampling in Super-Recognizers

Publication Name

Psychological Science

Abstract

Perceptual processes underlying individual differences in face-recognition ability remain poorly understood. We compared visual sampling of 37 adult super-recognizers—individuals with superior face-recognition ability—with that of 68 typical adult viewers by measuring gaze position as they learned and recognized unfamiliar faces. In both phases, participants viewed faces through “spotlight” apertures that varied in size, with face information restricted in real time around their point of fixation. We found higher accuracy in super-recognizers at all aperture sizes—showing that their superiority does not rely on global sampling of face information but is also evident when they are forced to adopt piecemeal sampling. Additionally, super-recognizers made more fixations, focused less on eye region, and distributed their gaze more than typical viewers. These differences were most apparent when learning faces and were consistent with trends we observed across the broader ability spectrum, suggesting that they are reflective of factors that vary dimensionally in the broader population.

Open Access Status

This publication may be available as open access

Volume

33

Issue

9

First Page

1615

Last Page

1630

Funding Number

DP190100957

Funding Sponsor

Australian Research Council

Share

COinS
 

Link to publisher version (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/09567976221096320