Poster(s)
The development of holistic face processing in children: A variation of the composite face effect
Sarah Thorniley
University of Greenwich
Dr Josh P. Davis
University of Greenwich
Objectives: Holistic face processing is considered a
developmental face recognition marker, and is often assessed using the
Composite Face Effect. This research, comparing adults and young children,
employed chimeric (vertically-split) hemi-faces as a paradigm variation.
Horizontally separated (gap) and vertically separated (misaligned) conditions
measured release from holistic binding. A simultaneous matching condition,
examined whole face processing. Images were constructed from photographs of a
single target (Target present – TP), or of two different targets (Target absent
– TA). Overall, children’s performance was expected to be inferior to adults. However,
with less developed holistic binding processes, their performance at TA
hemi-face discrimination might be comparatively superior.
Design: A 2 (age: adult, children) x 4 (image condition:
matching, chimeric, gap, misaligned) x 5 (image identity: TP-Same, TP-Mirrored,
TP-Different, TA-Similar (physical appearance), TA-Dissimilar) mixed design was
employed. Accuracy and response time data were collected.
Methods: Participants (21 adults; 27 children) provided
speeded ‘same’ or ‘different’ identity responses to randomly presented images
across conditions.
Results: No response time effects across age groups were
significant. Adults were more accurate in the gap, matching and the chimeric
conditions, but not misaligned trials. TA-Similar accuracy, particularly in
children was worse than TA-Dissimilar.
Conclusions: In matching and chimeric trials children
displayed equivalent but inferior patterns of performance to adults, suggesting
that expertise develops with age. There were no age group differences in the
misaligned trials. Children’s gap condition accuracy was considerably worse
suggesting that they release less readily from holistic binding with
horizontally, but not vertically separated hemi-face images.
