LAUSR

ABSTRACT This study examines the limits of image variability, commonly referred to as Ambient Images, in face learning. To measure face learning, the authors used the face sorting paradigm from Jenkins et al. [(2011). Variability in photos of the same face. Cognition, 121(3), 313–323]. Before completing the face sorting task, participants viewed either 5, 15, or 45 ambient images of an unfamiliar person’s face. The authors aimed to observe whether there is an incremental benefit of ambient images and whether studying many ambient images could predict perfect performance. The results revealed that performance greatly improved from a low to medium exposure group; however, performance plateaued after viewing 15 ambient images. In addition, participants who viewed 45 images did not always achieve perfect performance. Results of this study also found that time data can serve as a quantitative measure of familiarity. The authors concluded that future research must extend past ambient images to fully understand the process of familiarity.