Colour information biases facial age estimation and reduces inter-observer variability

Age estimation is a perceptual task that people perform automatically and effortlessly on a daily basis. Colour has been identified as one of the facial cues that contributes to age perception. To investigate further the role of colour in age perception, we manipulated the chromatic content of facial images holistically. In Experiment 1, images were shown in colour or grey scale; in Experiment 2, images were shown with red–green contrast increased or decreased; in Experiment 3, images were shown with modified yellow–blue contrast. We examined whether the presence of chromatic information biases the perception of age and/or affects inter-observer variability in age judgements, and whether specific chromatic information affects the perception of age. We found that the same face tended to be judged as younger with increased red–green contrast compared to decreased red–green contrast, suggesting that red–green contrast directly affects age perception. Inter-observer variability in age ratings was significantly lower when participants were asked to rate colour compared with grey scale versions of images. This finding indicates that colour carries information useful cues for age estimation.