title: When age-progressed images are unreliable: The roles of external features and age range.
abstract: When children go missing for many years, investigators commission age-progressed images from forensic artists to depict an updated appearance. These images have anecdotal success, and systematic research has found they lead to accurate recognition rates comparable to outdated photos. The present study examines the reliability of age progressions of the same individuals created by different artists. Eight artists first generated age progressions of eight targets across three age ranges. Eighty-five participants then evaluated the similarity of these images against other images depicting the same targets progressed at the same age ranges, viewing either whole faces or faces with external features concealed. Similarities were highest over shorter age ranges and when external features were concealed. Implications drawn from theory and application are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas, United States. Electronic address: ericksonw@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: William Blake
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas, United States.
authors.forename: James Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lampinen
authors.affiliation: University of Winchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charlie D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Frowd
authors.affiliation: Boston Police Department, United States.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mahoney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D008488:Medical Illustration; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age progression; Forensic imaging; Missing persons; Reliability