The effects of face inversion and contrast-reversal on efficiency and internal noise.
Inverted and contrast-reversed faces are identified less accurately and less rapidly than normal, upright faces. The effects of inversion and contrast-reversal may reflect different sampling strategies and/or different levels of internal noise. To test these alternative hypotheses, we used a combination of noise-masking and response-consistency techniques to measure the internal noise and high-noise efficiency associated with the identification of upright, inverted, and contrast-reversed faces. We found that both face inversion and contrast-reversal reduced efficiency, but did not change internal noise.
Gaspar
Carl M
CM
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ont., Canada L8S4L8. carl@psy.gla.ac.uk
Bennett
Patrick J
PJ
Sekuler
Allison B
AB
D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics; D012399:Rotation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds