Face Search Research Articles

Brief adaptation leads to faster reaction times in a face search task

Brief adaptation leads to faster reaction times in a face search task

The role of facial distinctiveness in the prioritisation of targets in disjunctive dual-target face search

Two experiments explored the search for pairs of faces in a disjunctive dual-target face search (DDTFS) task for unfamiliar face targets. The distinctiveness of the target was manipulated such that both faces were typical or distinctive or contained one typical and one distinctive target. Targets were searched for in arrays of eight faces. In Experiment 1, participants completed a DDTFS block with targets learnt over the block of trials. In Experiment 2, the dual-target block was preceded by two training blocks of single-target trials. Participants also completed the upright and inverted long-form Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT+). The results showed that searching for two typical faces leads to one target being prioritised at the expense of the other. The ability to search for non-prioritised typical faces was associated with scores on the CFMT+. This association disappeared when faces were learnt before completing DDTFS. We interpret the findings in terms of the impact of typicality on face learning, individual differences in the ability to learn faces, and the involvement of capacity-limited working memory in the search for unfamiliar faces. The findings have implications for security-related situations where agents must search for multiple unfamiliar faces having been shown their images.

Computational analysis of value learning and value-driven detection of neutral faces by young and older adults

The rapid detection of neutral faces with emotional value plays an important role in social relationships for both young and older adults. Recent psychological studies have indicated that young adults show efficient value learning for neutral faces and the detection of “value-associated faces,” while older adults show slightly different patterns of value learning and value-based detection of neutral faces. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain unknown. To investigate this, we applied hierarchical reinforcement learning and diffusion models to a value learning task and value-driven detection task that involved neutral faces; the tasks were completed by young and older adults. The results for the learning task suggested that the sensitivity of learning feedback might decrease with age. In the detection task, the younger adults accumulated information more efficiently than the older adults, and the perceptual time leading to motion onset was shorter in the younger adults. In younger adults only, the reward sensitivity during associative learning might enhance the accumulation of information during a visual search for neutral faces in a rewarded task. These results provide insight into the processing linked to efficient detection of faces associated with emotional values, and the age-related changes therein.

Size-dependent self-avoidance enables superdiffusive migration in macroscopic unicellulars

Many cells face search problems, such as finding food, mates, or shelter, where their success depends on their search strategy. In contrast to other unicellular organisms, the slime mold Physarum polycephalum forms a giant network-shaped plasmodium while foraging for food. What is the advantage of the giant cell on the verge of multicellularity? We experimentally study and quantify the migration behavior of P. polycephalum plasmodia on the time scale of days in the absence and presence of food. We develop a model which successfully describes its migration in terms of ten data-derived parameters. Using the mechanistic insights provided by our data-driven model, we find that regardless of the absence or presence of food, P. polycephalum achieves superdiffusive migration by performing a self-avoiding run-and-tumble movement. In the presence of food, the run duration statistics change, only controlling the short-term migration dynamics. However, varying organism size, we find that the long-term superdiffusion arises from self-avoidance determined by cell size, highlighting the potential evolutionary advantage that this macroscopically large cell may have.

A limited visual search advantage for illusory faces.

The human visual system is very sensitive to the presence of faces in the environment, so much so that it can produce the perception of illusory faces in everyday objects. Growing research suggests that illusory faces and real faces are processed by similar perceptual and neural mechanisms, but whether this similarity extends to visual attention is less clear. A visual search study showed that illusory faces have a search advantage over objects when the types of objects vary to match the objects in the illusory faces (e.g., chair, pepper, clock) (Keys et al., 2021). Here, we examine whether the search advantage for illusory faces over objects remains when compared against objects that belong to a single category (flowers). In three experiments, we compared visual search of illusory faces, real faces, variable objects, and uniform objects (flowers). Search for real faces was best compared with all other types of targets. In contrast, search for illusory faces was only better than search for variable objects, not uniform objects. This result shows a limited visual search advantage for illusory faces and suggests that illusory faces may not be processed like real faces in visual attention.

The impact of simulated hemianopia on visual search for faces, words, and cars.

Tests of visual search can index the effects of perceptual load and compare the processing efficiency for different object types, particularly when one examines the set-size effect, the increase in search time for each additional stimulus in an array. Previous studies have shown that the set-size effect is increased by manoeuvres that impede object processing, and in patients with object processing impairments. In this study, we examine how the low-level visual impairment of hemianopia affects visual search for complex objects, using a virtual paradigm. Forty-two healthy subjects performed visual search for faces, words, or cars with full-viewing as well as gaze-contingent simulations of complete left or right hemianopia. Simulated hemianopia lowered accuracy and discriminative power and increased response times and set-size effects, similarly for faces, words and cars. A comparison of set-size effects between target absent and target present trials did not show a difference between full-view and simulated hemianopic conditions, and a model of decision-making suggested that simulated hemianopia reduced the rate of accumulation of perceptual data, but did not change decision thresholds. We conclude that simulated hemianopia reduces the efficiency of visual search for complex objects, and that such impairment should be considered when interpreting results from high-level object processing deficits.

High-level visual search in children with autism.

Visual search has been classified as easy feature search, with rapid target detection and little set size dependence, versus slower difficult search with focused attention, with set size–dependent speed. Reverse hierarchy theory attributes these classes to rapid high cortical-level vision at a glance versus low-level vision with scrutiny, attributing easy search to high-level representations. Accordingly, faces “pop out” of heterogeneous object photographs. Individuals with autism have difficulties recognizing faces, and we now asked if this disability disturbs their search for faces. We compare search times and set size slopes for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and those with neurotypical development (NT) when searching for faces. Human face targets were found rapidly, with shallow set size slopes. The between-group difference between slopes (18.8 vs. 11.3 ms/item) is significant, suggesting that faces may not “pop out” as easily, but in our view does not warrant classifying ASD face search as categorically different from that of NT children. We also tested search for different target categories, dog and lion faces, and nonface basic categories, cars and houses. The ASD group was generally a bit slower than the NT group, and their slopes were somewhat steeper. Nevertheless, the overall dependencies on target category were similar: human face search fastest, nonface categories slowest, and dog and lion faces in between. We conclude that autism may spare vision at a glance, including face detection, despite its reported effects on face recognition, which may require vision with scrutiny. This dichotomy is consistent with the two perceptual modes suggested by reverse hierarchy theory.

Hybrid Fuzzy Neural Search Retrieval System

Search engines are crucial for information gathering systems (IGS). New challenges face search engines concerning automatic learning from user requests. In this paper, a new hybrid intelligent system is proposed to enhance the search process. Based on a Multilayer Fuzzy Inference System (MFIS), the first step is to implement a scalable system to relay logical rules in order to produce three classifications for search behavior, user profiles, and query characteristics from analysis of navigation log files. These three outputs from the MFIS are used as inputs for the second step, an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The training process of the ANFIS replaced the rules by adjusting the weights in order to find the most relevant result for the search query. This proposed system, called MFIS-ANFIS, is implemented as an experimental system. The system performance is evaluated using quantitative and comparative analysis. MFIS-ANFIS aimed to be the core of intelligent and reliable search process.

To Brush or Not to Brush: Product Rankings, Consumer Search, and Fake Orders

Brushing—online merchants placing fake orders of their own products—has been a widespread phenomenon on major e-commerce platforms. One key reason why merchants brush is that it boosts their rankings in search results. Products with higher sales volume are more likely to rank higher. Additionally, rankings matter because consumers face search frictions and narrow their attention to only the few products that show up at the top. Thus, fake orders can affect consumer choice. In our paper, we find that if brushing gets more costly for merchants (e.g., due to stricter platform policies), it may sometimes surprisingly harm consumers as it may only blunt brushing by the merchant who sells a more popular product but intensify brushing by the merchant selling a less popular product. If search is less costly for consumers (e.g., due to improved search technologies), it may not always benefit consumers, either. Moreover, the design of the ranking algorithm is critical: placing more weight on sales-volume-related factors may trigger a nonmonotone change in consumer welfare; tracking recent sales only as opposed to cumulative sales does not always dial down brushing and, in fact, may sometimes cause the merchant selling a less popular product to brush more.

INTELLECTUAL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT FOR USER SOCIALIZATION SUPPORT BY INTERESTS SIMILARITY

The object of research is the process of socialization of individuals, because nowadays the task of socialization is very important and all modern social networks try to optimize and automate the socialization of various users using all popular modern technologies such as neural networks and user text analysis algorithms. The subject matter of the study is the methods and technologies for the search and formation of a list of relevant users by similarity of interests for socialization. Accordingly, the system user profile analysis is studied, namely the identification of the user by searching the human face in user photos using neural networks and analysing user information using fuzzy search algorithms and the Noisy Channel model. The goal of the work is to create an intelligent system for socialization of individuals based on fuzzy word search using the Noisy Channel model with algorithms for efficient distribution of textual information, and a convolutional neural network to identify users of the system. The following tasks were solved in the article: 1. Analyse modern and most well-known approaches, methods, tools and algorithms for solving problems of socialization of individuals by similar interests. 2. To development the general structure of a typical intellectual system of socialization of individuals by common interests. 3. To form functional requirements to the basic modules of structure of typical intellectual system of socialization of persons on common interests. 4. Develop an intelligent system of support for user socialization by similarity of interests based on neural networks, fuzzy search and Noisy Channel model and conduct experimental testing. The following methods are used: Levenstein's method; Noisy Channel model; N-gram algorithm; fuzzy search. The following results were obtained: the general structure of a typical intellectual system of socialization of individuals by common interests was built and described. The main purpose of the system is to create a new algorithm for analysing user information and finding the most suitable users, according to the analysed text based on existing algorithms such as Levenstein's algorithm, sampling algorithm, N-gram algorithm and Noisy Channel model. The template of asynchronous creation of a software product which will allow to create almost completely dynamic system also underwent further development. It is necessary to improve the convolutional neural network, which will allow efficient and dynamic search of human faces in the photo, and check the presence of existing people in the database of the system. Сonclusions: It was found that the implemented algorithm performs sampling approximately 10 times faster than the usual Levenstein algorithm. Also, the implemented in the system algorithm for forming a sample of users is more efficient and accurate by about 25-30% compared to the usual Levenstein algorithm.

How fixation durations are affected by search difficulty manipulations

ABSTRACT Many eye tracking studies of visual search have focused on the role of the number of fixations and the nature of scan paths. Less attention has been paid to fixation durations and to how those durations are affected by stimulus features. Previous studies have shown that fixation durations can be as important as the number of fixations in explaining search times with complex stimuli (e.g., in search for specific faces). In the present study, simple stimuli were used in a search experiment where participants searched for a closed ring among rings with a gap. We manipulated distractor heterogeneity (DH), target-distractor similarity (TDS), and stimulus density (SDY, set size within a constant search window), and estimated the contributions of these factors to gaze behaviour and trial search time. The results show that fixation durations contribute less to variation in overall search time with simple search stimuli as compared to previous studies with more complex stimuli. However, fixation durations still increased with DH, TDS, and SDY. These effects were mainly additive, and we did not find an interaction between DH and closer element spacing at high levels of SDY that might have been expected since both DH and SDY influence distractor grouping.

«KALUSH» IS A RAP GROUP AT THE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL YOUTH HIP-HOP DIRECTION IN UKRAINIAN MODERN MUSIC

The aim of the article is to analyze the development of youth hip-hop direction in Ukrainian contemporary music within the creative activity of the rap group «KALUSH» in retrospective aspect of musicology and performance. There are discussed the conditions of transformational trends of spreading and promoting quality rap culture. The author has revealed the importance of using authenticity and national folklore traditions in integration with electronic music in hip-hop youth direction in pop music of Ukraine, modern show business and mass culture. There are used the research methodology of comparative, historical-logical, analytical and art methods. Such methodological approach allows the author to clarify the features of Rap in art at the stage of formation and development of hip-hop culture, including youth subculture in the spread of transformational processes taking place in modern Ukrainian pop music and show business. The author is considered the influential factors of the group «KALUSH» on the development of rap music of the performing industry and use of ethnofolk motifs with electronic music in the integrated synergy between the band and the audience. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the main elements of the creative activity of the KALUSH group are revealed in accordance with the development and spread of transformational processes in modern pop art and show business. There is described the use of integration ethno-folklore origins, Ukrainian folklore motifs and electronic music in the development of the rap-cultural industry in show business as a synergetic genre of youth hip-hop. The author is noticed the significant contribution of the group in raising Ukrainian rap music to a higher level of youth subculture. Conclusions. The reflection of the realities and evolution of rap music in pop art is been in constant search of new faces who are able to update the direction of rap music. The popularization of national folklore features, the establishment of the performing rap group «KALUSH» on the territory of the modern Ukrainian pop industry in the conditions of fundamentalization, globalization and commercialization in the modern music market hasn't been studied well and it is at the stage of change and transformation.

RESEARCH INFORMATION SYSTEM OF IMAGE RECOGNITION

Data classification in presence of noise can lead to much worse results than expected for pure patterns. In paper was investigated problem of the research is the process of user recognition and identification in the video sequence. The main contributions presented in this paper are experimental examination of influence of different types of noise and to the increase the security of an IT company by developing a computer system for recognizing and identifying users in the video sequence. Based on the study of methods and algorithms for finding faces in images, the Viola-Jones method, wavelet transform and the method of principal components were chosen. These methods are among the best in terms of the ratio of recognition efficiency and work speed. However, the training of classifiers is very slow, but the face search results are very fast.

The remediating effect of Attention Bias Modification on aggression in young offenders with antisocial tendency: A randomized controlled trial

Background and objectivesAn attention bias toward hostile stimuli is associated with an increased risk of aggressive behavior. Thus, reducing hostile attention bias may help to reduce aggression in young offenders. We evaluated the remediating effects of Attention Bias Modification (ABM) on hostile attention bias and aggressive behavior in Chinese male young offenders with antisocial tendencies. MethodsInstitutionalized male young offenders (ages 16–18) were recruited and randomly assigned to ABM (n = 28), placebo (n = 28), or waiting list (n = 28). The ABM group received four weeks of training using visual search of emotional faces; the placebo group underwent similar training using visual search of neutral objects. Before and after treatment, aggressive behavior, attention bias toward positive stimuli and hostile stimuli were assessed. ResultsLinear mixed models and hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the intervention effect of ABM was moderated by participants’ initial attention bias. Young offenders with a high level of initial hostile attention bias, or with a low level of initial positive attention bias, benefitted most from ABM. LimitationsThe small sample size impedes investigation of the mechanism of the intervention's effects. Further research can determine whether the current results can be extrapolated to the population of female young offenders. ConclusionThe results of the present study suggest that ABM is helpful for young offenders who show the greatest bias toward hostile stimuli and away from positive stimuli. These findings highlight the importance of matching the intervention and the participant. Trial registrationosf.io/vj5rk;

Alexithymia Is Associated With Deficits in Visual Search for Emotional Faces in Clinical Depression.

Background: The concept of alexithymia is characterized by difficulties identifying and describing one's emotions. Alexithymic individuals are impaired in the recognition of others' emotional facial expressions. Alexithymia is quite common in patients suffering from major depressive disorder. The face-in-the-crowd task is a visual search paradigm that assesses processing of multiple facial emotions. In the present eye-tracking study, the relationship between alexithymia and visual processing of facial emotions was examined in clinical depression.Materials and Methods: Gaze behavior and manual response times of 20 alexithymic and 19 non-alexithymic depressed patients were compared in a face-in-the-crowd task. Alexithymia was empirically measured via the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia-Scale. Angry, happy, and neutral facial expressions of different individuals were shown as target and distractor stimuli. Our analyses of gaze behavior focused on latency to the target face, number of distractor faces fixated before fixating the target, number of target fixations, and number of distractor faces fixated after fixating the target.Results: Alexithymic patients exhibited in general slower decision latencies compared to non-alexithymic patients in the face-in-the-crowd task. Patient groups did not differ in latency to target, number of target fixations, and number of distractors fixated prior to target fixation. However, after having looked at the target, alexithymic patients fixated more distractors than non-alexithymic patients, regardless of expression condition.Discussion: According to our results, alexithymia goes along with impairments in visual processing of multiple facial emotions in clinical depression. Alexithymia appears to be associated with delayed manual reaction times and prolonged scanning after the first target fixation in depression, but it might have no impact on the early search phase. The observed deficits could indicate difficulties in target identification and/or decision-making when processing multiple emotional facial expressions. Impairments of alexithymic depressed patients in processing emotions in crowds of faces seem not limited to a specific affective valence. In group situations, alexithymic depressed patients might be slowed in processing interindividual differences in emotional expressions compared with non-alexithymic depressed patients. This could represent a disadvantage in understanding non-verbal communication in groups.

When two faces are not better than one: Serial limited-capacity processing with redundant-target faces.

Many researchers believe that faces-whether presented alone or as part of an ensemble-are processed automatically. According to this idea, (a) the detection of single or multiple faces is resource free and does not require allocation of attention, and (b) visual search for faces is held in parallel. The current study put these hypotheses under direct scrutiny. Participants performed in a redundant target-detection task, responding according to the presence or absence of a face (or faces) on the display. I used a rigorous methodology known as the system factorial technology (SFT). The SFT methodology afforded simultaneous assessment of (a) architecture (serial vs. parallel), (b) stopping rule (exhaustive vs. self-terminating), and (c) capacity (limited, unlimited, or supercapacity). SFT analyses were held at the level of the mean RTs and at the level of the RT distributions. The analyses pointed conclusively to a serial self-terminating architecture with limited capacity. These findings cast serious doubts on the alleged automaticity of faceperception.

The “Matthew effect” and market concentration: Search complementarities and monopsony power

This paper develops a dynamic general equilibrium model with heterogeneous firms that face search complementarities in the formation of vendor contracts. Search complementarities amplify small differences in productivity among firms. Market concentration fosters monopsony power in the labor market, magnifying profits and further enhancing high-productivity firms’ output share. Firms want to get bigger and hire more workers, in stark contrast with the classic monopsony model, where a firm aims to reduce the amount of labor it hires. The combination of search complementarities and monopsony power induces a strong “Matthew effect” that endogenously generates superstar firms out of uniform idiosyncratic productivity distributions. Reductions in search costs increase market concentration, lower the labor income share, and increase wage inequality.

Affective Face Processing Modified by Different Tastes.

Facial emotional recognition is something used often in our daily lives. How does the brain process the face search? Can taste modify such a process? This study employed two tastes (sweet and acidic) to investigate the cross-modal interaction between taste and emotional face recognition. The behavior responses (reaction time and correct response ratios) and the event-related potential (ERP) were applied to analyze the interaction between taste and face processing. Behavior data showed that when detecting a negative target face with a positive face as a distractor, the participants perform the task faster with an acidic taste than with sweet. No interaction effect was observed with correct response ratio analysis. The early (P1, N170) and mid-stage [early posterior negativity (EPN)] components have shown that sweet and acidic tastes modified the ERP components with the affective face search process in the ERP results. No interaction effect was observed in the late-stage (LPP) component. Our data have extended the understanding of the cross-modal mechanism and provided electrophysiological evidence that affective facial processing could be influenced by sweet and acidic tastes.

Binary NCP: a new approach for solving nonlinear complementarity problems

A general nonlinear complementarity problem (NCP) is formulated as a finite set optimization problem called binary NCP, where design variables are identified by n-bit binary numbers. The binary NCP corresponds to the problem of finding a vertex of an n-dimensional unit cube with zero cost value. Two geometrically intuitive algorithms based on the geometry of the unit cube and another algebraically intuitive one based on the distribution of negative variables are implemented. They are called VSA (vertex search algorithm), FSA (face search algorithm), and NSA (negative-entry search algorithm). FSA and NSA are robust as shown by test problems of small to medium size. FSA, which is like a coordinate search algorithm, is much superior to the other two. It is simple to program and most reliable not only for NCPs but also for a new category called joker search problems.

Eye Fixation-Related Potentials during Visual Search on Acquaintance and Newly-Learned Faces.

Searching familiar faces in the crowd may involve stimulus-driven attention by emotional significance, together with goal-directed attention due to task-relevant needs. The present study investigated the effect of familiarity on attentional processes by exploring eye fixation-related potentials (EFRPs) and eye gazes when humans searched for, among other distracting faces, either an acquaintance’s face or a newly-learned face. Task performance and gaze behavior were indistinguishable for identifying either faces. However, from the EFRP analysis, after a P300 component for successful search of target faces, we found greater deflections of right parietal late positive potentials in response to newly-learned faces than acquaintance’s faces, indicating more involvement of goal-directed attention in processing newly-learned faces. In addition, we found greater occipital negativity elicited by acquaintance’s faces, reflecting emotional responses to significant stimuli. These results may suggest that finding a familiar face in the crowd would involve lower goal-directed attention and elicit more emotional responses.