A Shift from Image-Based to Identity-Based Face Recognition is Enhanced by Social Significance but Mediated by Perceptual Experience

Person recognition is better for familiar than unfamiliar faces. Interestingly, recognizing specific images of the face shows a reverse effect of better recognition of unfamiliar than familiar faces. This suggests a representational shift from an image-based to an identity-based representation when faces become familiar. Does this shift arise from the richer perceptual experience with familiar faces, their higher social significance, or a combination of both? Two studies (N = 172) examined how these factors influence recognition of the person and the specific image. In Study 1, learning five images per unfamiliar person, compared to one, led to better person recognition and worse image recognition, making them more akin to familiar people. Study 2 replicated this effect and showed that higher social significance improved person recognition, but only when there was sufficient perceptual experience. We conclude that perceptual experience is crucial for identity-based recognition, while social significance enhances its effect.