Abstract
BackgroundFace-identity processing declines with age. Few studies have examined whether face-identity processing abilities can be measured independently from general cognitive abilities in older adults (OA). This question has practical implications for the assessment of face-identity processing abilities in OA and theoretical implications for the notion of face processing as a specific ability. The present study examined the specificity of face memory and face matching abilities in OA aged 50 + .MethodsPerformance of younger adults (YA) and OA was measured on face tasks: Cambridge Face Memory Task (CFMT), the Glasgow Face Matching Task (GFMT), holistic processing; and tasks of general cognition: fluid intelligence, selective attention, and mental rotation. Data were analyzed using multiple regression models encompassing (i) the CFMT/GFMT and measures of general cognition; and (ii) all face processing tasks.ResultsAcross the two age groups, models encompassing all face tasks were significant and accounted for more variance in the data than models encompassing the CFMT/GFMT and measures of general cognition. General cognitive abilities accounted for 17% of variance for the GFMT (p < 0.01) and 3% for the CFMT (p > 0.05).DiscussionOur results suggest that face memory can be measured independently from general cognition using the CFMT in OA. Implications for the notion of a general face processing factor across the adult lifespan are discussed.
Highlights
Face-identity processing abilities start to decline as early as 30 years of age, and robust age-related differences have been reported for a variety of facial identity processing tasks in older adults (OA) aged 65 +
Our results suggest that face memory can be measured independently from general cognition using the Cambridge Face Memory Task (CFMT) in OA
Descriptive statistics & age‐related effects Descriptive statistics and results of independent groups t-tests comparing younger adults (YA) to OA are provided in Table 1.3 OA performed more poorly than YA on all tasks except for the composite task, where significant age differences arose from larger holistic effects in OA as compared to YA
Summary
Face-identity processing abilities start to decline as early as 30 years of age, and robust age-related differences have been reported for a variety of facial identity processing tasks in older adults (OA) aged 65 + (e.g., reviewed by Boutet et al, 2015; Germine et al, 2011; Hildebrandt et al, 2011; Susilo et al, 2013). Most studies that have examined the impact of aging on face-identity processing have focused on group-mean differences and have utilized lab-based measures. This contrasts with research with younger adults (YA) where there is a growing interest in developing psychometrically sound tests (e.g., Cambridge Face Memory Test, Duchaine & Nakayama, 2006) that can be utilized to measure variations in face-identity processing and advance our understanding of this important social cognitive ability (Wilmer, 2017). Few studies have examined whether face-identity process‐ ing abilities can be measured independently from general cognitive abilities in older adults (OA) This question has practical implications for the assessment of face-identity processing abilities in OA and theoretical implications for the notion of face processing as a specific ability. The present study examined the specificity of face memory and face matching abilities in OA aged 50 +
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