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Keywords:

PSI_MIC

Abstract:

Facial dysmorphism and perceived similarity between faces HILL, H., JIMENEZ GOMEZ, N. (University of Wollongong), SHAWEESH, A. (Jordan University of Science and Technology), BANKIER, A. (Genetic Health Services Victoria), CLAES, P., & CLEMENT, JG. (University of Melbourne) harry@uow.edu.au Certain genetic disorders are associated with characteristic facial dysmorphisms that can play a role in diagnosis. Three experiments investigated whether three-dimensional models of syndrome faces are naturally grouped together on the basis of perceived similarity, whether provision of a target archetype affects grouping, and whether perceived similarity can be linked to measured physical differences. Observers sorted three-dimensional facial scans of affected and unaffected individuals on the basis of perceived similarity. In Experiment 1 sorting was found to be a function of view, with three-quarter views most likely to be sorted according to syndrome. William‟s Syndrome (WS) and Achondroplasia (ACPL) were more likely to be grouped together than Sotos Syndrome (SS) or unaffected faces (UA). Experiment 2 presented animations of rotating faces and tested the effect of providing an archetype or average as a target for each group. Only adult male faces were used, limiting other possible sources of variation. Sorting performance increased overall and the provision of archetypes increased the probability of ACPL and WS faces being sorted together. A third experiment, equivalent to experiment 2 but with still faces, will also be reported and the relationship between perceived and physical similarity considered.