The verbal overshadowing effect in face memory : The conditions where it occurs, and its mechanisms

从记忆中口头描述一个目标面孔对随后的识别任务有什么影响，例如，在目击者的排队决定中？一些实验研究发现了干扰效应（言语遮蔽效应），而另一些则发现了促进效应或没有效应。本研究旨在探讨言语描述对面孔再认的影响因素。基于BEAS模型进行了三项研究（Itoh，2005）假设言语化在记忆的整体，非分析方面占主导地位时干扰面部识别，而当局部和分析方面占主导地位时促进面部记忆，当记忆力差时，局部和分析方面占主导地位，例如，第一项研究通过对复合面孔的再认实验发现，长的记忆间隔使面孔记忆的局部和分析方面占主导地位。这也表明，由任务引发的一种心理设置导致了这种倾向。前者支持BEAS模型，而后者则不支持。可能需要更多的数据进行进一步讨论。第二个研究表明，自愿的口头描述会干扰面孔记忆，即使口头描述不是明确要求的。我们现在正在计划一项研究，以检查语言活动是否真的参与了这种现象。第三个研究探讨了BEAS模型的假设，敦促整体，非分析或部分，分析处理的任务，使用纳冯数字。在这项研究中，使用了人脸以外的材料（云和指纹的照片）。虽然获得了一些可能支持模型假设的数据，但我们需要更多的数据，并正在继续研究，以使结论更加坚定。

What is the effect of verbally describing a target face from memory on succeeding recognition task, for example, in an eyewitness' line-up decision? Some experimental research found interfering effects (verbal overshadowing effects) whereas others found facilitating effects or no effects. The purpose of this research is to examine the variables that influence the effects of verbal description on face recognition. Three researches were conducted based on the BEAS model (Itoh, 2005) that hypothesized verbalization interfered with face recognition when the holistic, non-analytical aspects of memory were dominant whereas it facilitated face memory when the partial and analytical aspects were dominant, and the partial and analytic aspects were dominant when memory was poor, for example, because of a long retention interval.The first research revealed that a long retention interval made the partial and analytic aspects of face memory dominant through recognition experiments using compound faces. It also suggested that a kind of mental settings elicited by the task caused this tendency. The former finding supports the BEAS model whereas the latter does not. More data may be needed for further discussion. The second research suggested that voluntary verbal description interfered with face memory even though verbal description was not required explicitly. We are now planning a research to examine if verbal activity actually is involved in this phenomenon. The third research examined the hypotheses of the BEAS model urging holistic, non-analytic or partial, analytic processing by a task using Navon figures. In this research, materials other than faces (pictures of cloud and finger prints)were used. Although some data that may support the hypotheses of the model were obtained, we need more data and are continuing the research to make the conclusions firmer.