Face A
Face B
Stare at the red dot. Face A is stretched, Face B is squashed.
Face Identity Aftereffect
Experience the high-level adaptation of face processing in the Fusiform Face Area.
🧐 What do you see?▼
Stare at the red dot for 30 seconds. One face is stretched vertically, the other is squashed. When you switch to the 'Normal' phase, two IDENTICAL normal faces appear.The face on the left will look squashed, and the one on the right will look stretched!
🧠 Why this works▼
Face processing happens in a dedicated brain region called the Fusiform Face Area (FFA). Unlike simple lines or colors, the FFA processes faces as global configurations of features.
When you adapt to a 'stretched' configuration, the FFA shifts its internal definition of a 'normal' face toward that stretched state. When a truly normal face is shown, it is 'measured' against this temporary, distorted baseline, making it appear squashed in comparison. This proves that our perception of identity is norm-based.
🧪 Try variations▼
- Switch Sides: Does the effect follow the face or the location? (Usually, it is specific to the retinal location).
- Different Faces: While we use a simplified face here, the same effect happens with real photographs of celebrities or friends.
❓ FAQ▼
Does this affect how I see real people?
Briefly, yes. If you stared at distorted photos for many minutes, your perception of real faces would be noticeably shifted for a short time.