Abstract
Visual cognition refers to the processing of retinally available information, and its integration with prior knowledge to generate representations. Traditionally, perception and memory have been considered as isolated, albeit related cognitive processes. Much of vision research has investigated how input characteristics relate to overt behavior, and hence determine observed cognitive proficiency in either perception or memory. Currently, however, comparatively less focus has been devoted to understanding the contribution of observer-related aspects. Studies of acquired expertise have documented systematic changes in brain connectivity and exceptional memory feats through extensive training (Dresler et al., 2017). The mechanisms underlying naturally occurring cognitive superiority, however, are unfortunately much less understood. In this talk I will synthesize findings from studies of neurotypical observers with a specific type of cognitive superiority — that observed for face identity processing. Focussing on a growing group of these so-called "Super-Recognizers" (Russell et al., 2009) identified with the same diagnostic framework (Ramon, 2021), my lab has taken a deep-data approach to provide detailed case descriptions of these unique individuals using a range of paradigms and methods. Intriguingly, their superior abilities cannot be accounted for in terms of enhanced processing of certain stimulus dimensions, such as information content, or stimulus memorability (Nador et al., 2021a,b). Rather, our work convergingly points to behavioral consistency as their common attribute.