Face symmetry assessment: Evidence for malleability and expertise

Clark, Kait; Jackson, Tate H; Mitroff, Stephen R

Abstract

Evaluating symmetry is an important element of face processing and contributes to judgments about attractiveness, healthiness, and mate selection. Although general face processing in healthy adult humans is well studied, less is known about whether symmetry assessment is a universally equal skill across all humans. Here we reveal that a particular group of individuals, orthodontists, have an advanced ability to assess facial symmetry. The practice of orthodontics involves assessing the symmetry of faces, and the observed benefits here likely arise from the fact that orthodontists are specifically trained to evaluate and improve facial symmetry.

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: Object Perception, Attention, and Memory
• Start Date: Nov 1, 2012
• End Date: Nov 1, 2012
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2012
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2012
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/942201
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Object Perception, Attention, and Memory