The effect of face masks and sunglasses on identity and expression recognition with super-recognisers and typical observers

Face masks present a new challenge to face identification and emotion
recognition in Western cultures. Here we present the results of three
experiments that test the effect of masks, and also the effect of
sunglasses (an occlusion that individuals tend to have more experience
with) on 1) familiar face matching, 2) unfamiliar face matching, and 3)
emotion recognition. Occlusion reduced accuracy in all three tasks, with
most errors in the mask condition, however, there was little difference in
performance for faces in masks compared to faces in sunglasses.
Super-recognisers (SRs), people who are highly skilled at matching
unconcealed faces, were impaired by occlusion, but at the group level,
performed with higher accuracy than controls on all tasks. Results inform
psychology theory with implications for everyday interactions, security,
and policing in a mask-wearing society.