Recognition memory for familiar “public” faces: Effects of orientation and delay

Abstract

Recognition memory for familiar “public” faces, unfamiliar human faces, canine faces, and architecture was investigated as a function of upright vs rotated test orientation and immediate vs delayed tests. Recognition accuracy was reliably greater for upright stimuli and for familiar faces. The delayed test showed no significant effects. Rotation of stimuli resulted in a greater recognition error ratio for familiar and unfamiliar faces than for dog faces and buildings on the immediate test. Rotation of buildings on the delayed test, however, substantially increased their error scores equal to the error levels for human faces. It was concluded that verbal coding facilitated recognition of familiar faces in the upright but not in the rotated orientation. © 1971, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.