<p>I don't know of any proper identity recognition experiments using such a mask, and obviously it depends on how difficult the recognition test is. However, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027712001412" rel="nofollow">here</a> is a paper where they found that sunglasses (and facemasks) impeded accuracy in an <em>emotion</em> recognition task. I would guess that often identity recognition is just as difficult as emotion recognition, so I would assume glasses or a mask would make people (slightly) worse. In general, this is a question about what features are necessary/useful for face recognition. There is lots of research about this, and studies such as <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frederic_Gosselin2/publication/11169253_Show_Me_the_Features!_Understanding_Recognition_From_the_Use_of_Visual_Information/links/55e8808308aeb65162630c88.pdf" rel="nofollow">this</a> show that the eyes are particularly important. So disrupting this part of the face, and potentially the relationships between them, is actually not a bad way to disguise yourself (though obviously a full-on balaclava would be better!).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-16T15:46:53.790Z
2016-02-16T15:46:53.790Z
splint
<p>In modern comic book fiction, a superhero wears a partial mask to obscure their identity.  This mask is properly known as a "Domino Mask"<br>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UxVMm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UxVMm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Now obviously these masks are not the most effective masks in the world.  However, is there any cog sci evidence that they provide any protection at all?  I highly doubt there's any evidence to show they prevent someone from identifying you, but is there any evidence to suggest they even slow identification down or increase errors?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-15T23:35:02.500Z
Here's a Gizmodo piece about fooling facial recognition: http://io9.gizmodo.com/how-fashion-can-be-used-to-thwart-facial-recognition-te-1495648863 . It's kind of relevant and might be an interesting read for you.
K A
<perception>
Are superhero masks effective at concealing your identity?
Cort Ammon
# Are superhero masks effective at concealing your identity?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-15)

In modern comic book fiction, a superhero wears a partial mask to obscure their identity. This mask is properly known as a "Domino Mask"  
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/UxVMm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/UxVMm.jpg)

Now obviously these masks are not the most effective masks in the world. However, is there any cog sci evidence that they provide any protection at all? I highly doubt there's any evidence to show they prevent someone from identifying you, but is there any evidence to suggest they even slow identification down or increase errors?

**Tags:** perception

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Here's a Gizmodo piece about fooling facial recognition: http://io9.gizmodo.com/how-fashion-can-be-used-to-thwart-facial-recognition-te-1495648863 . It's kind of relevant and might be an interesting read for you.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-02-16. Score: 1

I don't know of any proper identity recognition experiments using such a mask, and obviously it depends on how difficult the recognition test is. However, [here](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027712001412) is a paper where they found that sunglasses (and facemasks) impeded accuracy in an *emotion* recognition task. I would guess that often identity recognition is just as difficult as emotion recognition, so I would assume glasses or a mask would make people (slightly) worse. In general, this is a question about what features are necessary/useful for face recognition. There is lots of research about this, and studies such as [this](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frederic_Gosselin2/publication/11169253_Show_Me_the_Features!_Understanding_Recognition_From_the_Use_of_Visual_Information/links/55e8808308aeb65162630c88.pdf) show that the eyes are particularly important. So disrupting this part of the face, and potentially the relationships between them, is actually not a bad way to disguise yourself (though obviously a full-on balaclava would be better!).


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