Our brain extracts important information for face recognition principally from the eyes, and secondly from the mouth and nose, according to a new study. This result was obtained by analyzing ...

Previous studies have indicated that during face recognition, we look most often at the eyes, nose and mouth. Now, a new study has pinpointed exactly where our eyes land when we see a face.

The composite-face effect refers to the large drop in performance accuracy when correct inner face features – like eyes, nose and mouth – are viewed in the context of incorrect outer features.

In this instance, the sketchy black-and-white illustration seems to depict a half-finished visage with only the eyes, nose, mouth, chin and no outline of the head.