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Under the sun: adaptation effects to changes in facial complexion
Carbon, Claus-Christian; Utz, Sandra; Mueller, Ronja; u. a. (2023): Under the sun: adaptation effects to changes in facial complexion, in: Bamberg: Otto-Friedrich-Universität, Jg. 11, Nr. 1, S. 1–10.
Faculty/Chair:
Author:
Publisher Information:
Year of publication:
2023
Volume:
11
Issue:
1
Pages:
Source/Other editions:
BMC Psychology, 11 (2023), 1, S. 1-10 . - ISSN: 2050-7283
Year of first publication:
2023
Language:
English
Abstract:
Background
Many Western people enjoy sunshine, and through the sun’s stimulated increase in melanin, the skin tone or skin complexion will darken (and lighten again during winter). Although the initial salience of such a new look is remarkable – especially in the face – we seem to adapt to this new look relatively quickly. Research on face adaptation in general repeatedly showed that the inspection of manipulated versions of faces (so-called adaptor faces) leads to a change of the perception of subsequently presented faces. The present study investigates face adaptation to very natural changes in faces such as changes in complexion.
Methods
During the adaptation phase in the present study, participants saw faces with either strongly increased or decreased complexion. After a pause of 5 min, participants had to identify the veridical (non-manipulated) face out of two faces (a face slightly manipulated in complexion combined with the non-manipulated face) during a test phase.
Results
Results show strong adaptation effects to decreased complexion intensities.
Discussion
It seems that we are updating our facial representations in memory quite quickly (i.e., optimizing our processing through adaptation) and seem to sustain those new representations over a certain timespan (at least 5 min). Our results demonstrate that changes in complexion draw our attention for deeper analysis (at least with decreased complexion). However, it loses its informative quality quickly via fast and relatively sustainable adaptation.
Many Western people enjoy sunshine, and through the sun’s stimulated increase in melanin, the skin tone or skin complexion will darken (and lighten again during winter). Although the initial salience of such a new look is remarkable – especially in the face – we seem to adapt to this new look relatively quickly. Research on face adaptation in general repeatedly showed that the inspection of manipulated versions of faces (so-called adaptor faces) leads to a change of the perception of subsequently presented faces. The present study investigates face adaptation to very natural changes in faces such as changes in complexion.
Methods
During the adaptation phase in the present study, participants saw faces with either strongly increased or decreased complexion. After a pause of 5 min, participants had to identify the veridical (non-manipulated) face out of two faces (a face slightly manipulated in complexion combined with the non-manipulated face) during a test phase.
Results
Results show strong adaptation effects to decreased complexion intensities.
Discussion
It seems that we are updating our facial representations in memory quite quickly (i.e., optimizing our processing through adaptation) and seem to sustain those new representations over a certain timespan (at least 5 min). Our results demonstrate that changes in complexion draw our attention for deeper analysis (at least with decreased complexion). However, it loses its informative quality quickly via fast and relatively sustainable adaptation.
GND Keywords: ; ; ;
Hautfarbe
Gesicht
Gesichtserkennung
Visuelle Wahrnehmung
Keywords: ; ; ; ; ;
Complexion
Face adaptation
Face perception
Face memory
Face recognition
Skin color
DDC Classification:
RVK Classification:
Type:
Article
Activation date:
June 29, 2023
Project(s):
Permalink
https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/59783