Abstract
Three experiments are reported on the mental representation of faces with respect to the production of a face superiority effect. The effects of varying spatial position of the features and type of accompanying feature were investigated. Variations in attention to facial versus nonfacial features were considered by regression analyses, allowing an assessment of which was the more facelike of any two displays. Such regression analyses may have application to other recognition tasks if attention is divided between aspects of the display. Two further experiments explored the role of exposure duration in face superiority effects. The relationship of the results to models of face recognition is considered.
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This work was supported by Medical Research Council Grant G 973/144 and an ESF twinning grant. Thanks are extended to A Sykes for statistical advice.
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Davidoff, J. The mental representation of faces: Spatial and temporal factors. Perception & Psychophysics 40, 391–400 (1986). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208198
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208198