High and low performers differ in the use of shape information for face recognition

Previous findings demonstrated that increasing facial distinctiveness by means of spatial caricaturing improves face learning and results in modulations of event-related-potential (ERP) components associated with the processing of typical shape information (P200) and with face learning and recognition (N250). The current study investigated performance-based differences in the effects of spatial caricaturing: a modified version of the Bielefelder famous faces test (BFFT) was applied to subdivide a non-clinical group of 28 participants into better and worse face recognizers. Overall, a learning benefit was seen for caricatured compared to veridical faces. In addition, for learned faces we found larger caricaturing effects in response times, inverse efficiency scores as well as in P200 and N250 amplitudes in worse face recognizers, indicating that these individuals profited disproportionately from exaggerated idiosyncratic face shape. During learning and for novel faces at test, better and worse recognizers showed similar caricaturing effects. We suggest that spatial caricaturing helps better and worse face recognizers accessing critical idiosyncratic shape information that supports identity processing and learning of unfamiliar faces. For familiarized faces, better face recognizers might depend less on exaggerated shape and make better use of texture information than worse recognizers. These results shed light on the transition from unfamiliar to familiar face processing and may also be relevant for developing training-programmes for people with difficulties in face recognition.