Repetition and Semantic Priming Effects in Facial Composite Images

Perception, Cognition and Neuroscience (PCN) Research Group

The research programme is investigating the impact of contextual (semantic) information and priming effect for understanding and facilitating recognition of facial composites.

Facial composites have a long history of assisting the police in criminal investigations. Names put forward by the police and members of the public enable potential suspects to be identified or eliminated from an enquiry (for a recent review, see Frowd, 2021). Previous research has indicated the importance of contextual information for identification of composites (Frowd et al., 2011; Ness, 2003; Brown et al., 2019; Thorley, 2020), and here we consider the relevance of appropriate semantic information and repeated presentation, both of which previous research would suggest should be beneficial for recognition (correct naming) of composite faces (e.g., Burton et al., 1999; Calder & Young, 1986; Hills et al., 2008).

Primary goals and Objectives

  • Methods for improving recognition of composite faces
  • The impact of contextual information
  • Procedures for achieving best evidence from eyewitnesses

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