7–11–Year–Old Children Show an Advantage for Matching and Recognizing the Internal Features of Familiar Faces: Evidence against a Developmental Shift

Abstract

Adults are better at recognizing familiar faces from the internal facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) than from the external facial features (hair, face outline). However, previous research suggests that this "internal advantage" does not appear until relatively late in childhood, and some studies suggest that children rely on external features to recognize all faces, whether familiar or not. We use a matching task to examine face processing in 7-8- and 10-11-year-old children. We use a design in which all face stimuli can be used as familiar items (for participants who are classmates) and unfamiliar items (for participants from a different school). Using this design, we find an internal feature advantage for matching familiar faces, for both groups of children. The same children were then shown the external and internal features of their classmates and were asked to name or otherwise identify them. Again, both age groups identified more of their classmates correctly from the internal than the external features. This is the first time an internal advantage has been reported in this age group. Results suggest that children as young as 7 process faces in the same way as do adults, and that once procedural difficulties are overcome, the standard effects of familiarity are observed.

Three studies on configural face processing by chimpanzees

“…reliance on second-order relational features, or the extent to which infants and neonates show a reliance on the spatial configuration of facial features. Bonner and Burton (2004) reported recognition advantages for discriminating familiar faces from inner vs. outer features in children as young as 7 years that was comparable to that of adult subjects (Nachson & Shechory, 2002). Similarly, Flin (1985) reported an advantage for face recognition in upright compared to inverted faces in children as young as 7 years of age.…”

Atypical unfamiliar face processing in Williams syndrome: What can it tell us about typical familiarity effects?

“…Research with typical adults consistently shows that masking internal features (eyes, nose, mouth) of familiar faces is more detrimental for recognition and face matching than masking external features (hair, chin, ears; Ellis, Shepherd & Davies, 1979;Young, Hay, McWeeny, Flude & Ellis, 1985). This pattern is not evident for unfamiliar faces and there is no change in the way that internal and external features contribute to unfamiliar face processing across development (Campbell, Walker & Baron-Cohen, 1995;Campbell et al, 1999, Bonner & Burton, 2004.…”

“…The current task uses the internal versus external feature paradigm to explore face matching by individuals with WS replicating a procedure already used with typically developing individuals (Bonner & Burton, 2004). Whole face targets are eliminated and the stimuli incorporate different orientations to avoid pattern matching strategies.…”

Recognizing faces from ethnic in-groups and out-groups: Importance of outer face features and effects of retention interval

“…Inner face features, such as the eyes, nose and mouth, are more important than external features for recognizing and matching familiar faces (Bruce, 1988;Ellis et al, 1979;Young et al, 1985). Developmental studies have found that adult-like processing of inner features is not achieved until between 10 and 15 years of age (Campbell, Coleman, et al, 1995;Campbell, Walker, & Baron-Cohen, 1995;Want, Pascalis, Coleman, & Blades, 2003; although see Bonner & Burton, 2004). Some authors have argued that perceptual expertise is required to successfully encode inner face features.…”