The role of familiarity in three-dimensional view-transferability of face identity adaptation

Vision Res. 2007 Feb;47(4):525-31. doi: 10.1016/j.visres.2006.10.012. Epub 2007 Jan 17.

Abstract

Recent studies show that face adaptation effects partially transfer across three-dimensional viewpoint change. Here we investigated whether the degree of adaptation transfer is mediated by experience with a face. We manipulated face familiarity and measured identity aftereffects both within- and across-viewpoint. Familiarity enhanced the overall strength of identity adaptation as well as the degree to which adaptation transferred across-viewpoint change. These findings support the idea that transfer effects in adaptation vary as a function of experience with particular faces, and suggest the use of adaptation as a tool for tracking face representations as they develop.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Adult
  • Face*
  • Figural Aftereffect
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Psychophysics
  • Recognition, Psychology*
  • Transfer, Psychology