title: Eye-witnesses should not do cryptic crosswords prior to identity parades.
abstract: Navon letter tasks have been shown to affect subsequent face recognition performance. As such tasks are not likely to by carried out prior to a witness attending an identity parade this is unlikely to have much applied relevance. Here, however, it is explored how a range of puzzles that witnesses might engage in affect face recognition. Cryptic crosswords were found to have a detrimental effect on subsequent face recognition, unlike reading, literal crosswords, or sudoku. As well as this finding's practical importance, it also provides a further insight into the Navon effect on face processing.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, UK. lewismb@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010988:Play and Playthings; D021641:Recognition, Psychology