The Impact of Official Art Training on Face Recognition Ability

Abstract

Face recognition is an essential ability in peoples social lives and is widely thought to be equally mastered by the majority of people. However, more and more recent studies have discovered individual differences in this skill, which may be related to various factors in everyday experience. Given that portraits artists tend to have a better face recognition ability compared to others, this correlational study investigated whether the official art training that individuals have received influences how well they recognize and memorize faces. The hypothesis is that regular practice in visual art could enhance visual memory capacity in individuals, therefore enabling them to be better at recognizing human faces than their peers. To assess participants art training level and face recognition ability, the current study included an online survey and employed the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT). The results failed to demonstrate an association that was proposed. Limitations in the study and potential future directions were discussed.