Face Identity After Effects in familiar faces are mediated by type of processing

Abstract

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An important question regarding face aftereffects is whether it is based on face-specific or lower-level mechanisms. One method for addressing this is to explore how adaptation in upright or inverted, photographic positive or negative faces transfers to test stimuli that are either upright or inverted and normal or negated. A series of studies are reported in which this is tested using a typical face-identity after-effect paradigm in unfamiliar and familiar faces. Results showed that aftereffects were strongest when the adaptor matched the test stimuli. In addition, aftereffects did not transfer from upright adaptors to inverted test images, but did transfer from inverted adaptors to upright test images in familiar faces. However, in unfamiliar faces, a different pattern was observed. The results are interpreted in terms of how identity adaptation interacts with low-level adaptation and highlight differences in the representation of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Keywords

• adaptation
• face processing
• Aftereffects
• familiar faces
• unfamiliar faces